Nairobi (Somalia Today) — A new alliance of influential Somali leaders has rejected the federal government’s plans for the 2026 election, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of “using unlawful tactics to centralize power and secure” his re-election.
The Somali Future Council warned on Wednesday that it rejects any poll held without a broad national consensus. The council’s statement came after a three-day meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
The group stated that it was compelled to meet due to the “difficult security situation, political uncertainty, and the damage to the unity and cohesion of the country.”
This new alliance includes the leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, two of Somalia’s most powerful federal states. It also brings in prominent opposition figures from the Somali Salvation Forum, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and former prime ministers Hassan Ali Khaire, Mohamed Hussein Roble, and Abdi Farah Shirdon.
The council announced plans for a large national conference inside Somalia to create a path for an election that is “on-time” and “based on agreement.”
Constitutional crisis
The dispute lies at the heart of a deep political crisis that began in March 2024. At that time, Somalia’s parliament passed a package of controversial constitutional amendments.
For decades, Somalia has used an indirect, clan-based system to select leaders. This “4.5 formula” allocates parliamentary seats to four major clans and a coalition of smaller ones.
President Mohamud’s government pushed through constitutional changes in March 2024 to move to a direct, “one-person, one-vote” system.
President Mohamud champions the changes as vital for democracy. However, the opposition argues the reforms are an illegal “power grab.”
The amendments, passed in March 2024, are the most significant in Somalia’s history. They shift the country from a parliamentary to a presidential system.
The new rules also give the president power to appoint the prime minister and extend the presidential term from four to five years.
‘Grave allegations’
The reaction from some federal states was immediate. On March 31, 2024, Puntland suspended its cooperation with the federal government.
In its new statement, the council accused the president of leading “unlawful steps” that, if not stopped, will disrupt statehood and the federal system.”
The statement listed a string of grave allegations. These include the “abuse of state power,” “corruption and the looting of national property,” and the “illegal arrest of citizens.”
The council also accused the administration of the “illegal use of security agencies” and the “displacement of poor citizens.”
Somalia Today contacted Villa Somalia for a response to the allegations, but did not immediately receive a comment.
Security at stake
The council also made a specific claim about internal travel. It warned against the “politicizing and obstructing of the country’s movement” for what it called the “private financial interests” of federal officials.
This political infighting has had a severe impact on security.
Analysts have warned that the dispute has stalled the government’s military offensive against Al-Shabaab.
The al-Qaeda-linked group has exploited this power vacuum. Al-Shabaab has regained significant territory in central Somalia in 2025, reversing many of the government’s hard-won gains.
The new alliance was clear about its demands. The council stated it “clearly opposes” any constitutional changes made without following the proper legal process. It also said it rejects “any step that leads to a term extension” for the current government.
Crucially, the council warned it rejects the “result of any non-consensus election.” This move raises the risk of a destabilizing parallel political process, similar to the crisis that nearly sparked violence in 2021.
The council concluded with a direct appeal to President Mohamud. They urged him to “return to compliance with the country’s Constitution” to save Somalia from a “constitutional and leadership vacuum.”
