The opposition groups in Somalia held a meeting in Mogadishu and issued a communique yesterday . The meeting which kicked-off on May 27 and lasted until May 31, 2025 saw the attendance of former Somali President, former Parliamentary Speakers, former ministers, MP’s from Somalia’s bicameral parliament. Among the attendees of the meeting, there are 13 Presidential Aspirants. The forum held series consultations with all sects of the populace including the elders, religious people, youth, women, the media and the civil society.
They discussed the fight against extremist groups like Al-Shabab and ISIS, the unity, the political dispute that emanated from the constitutional change, corruption and nepotism, auctioning the public land, covert agreements on Somalia’s natural resources, youth who lost their lives through the Sahara desert, economic hardships, and the dire humanitarian crisis. First of all, the forum conveyed its sincere condolences to the Somali youth who lost their lives in the sea that locates between Algeria and Spain. The Forum said that the youth are fleeing from the state of despair and lack of bright future.
The Forum issued the following points:-
- Security and the fight against terrorist groups.
The Forum underscored to unite the fight against terrorist groups like Al-Shabab and ISIS, and urged to throw the support behind the Somali gov’t in order to rescue the existence of the state while holding the country’s leader to accountable for the management and poor war strategy, neglecting and not providing a welfare to the brave Somali National Army (SNA) and the local defense forces.
- Unity and the country’s togetherness.
The forum strengthens the unity and the nation’s togetherness. It condemns the political segregation. The forum accuses the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in his attempts to undermine the political agreements which were the basis for the re-establishment of Somalia pertaining to Arta and Mbgathi conferences.
- The term in office of regional states
The meeting expressed its worry the term extension of Federal Member States including Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest which is against the country’s constitution and that of the regional states. The illegal term extension, joining the Somali President’s political party and dismantling the National Consultative Forum clearly indicates the intention of the Somali President to rule the country within iron fist like dictators. The Forum also spoke about his plans to extend his term in office and ensuring elections that he will only be the victor.
- Power Abuse, nepotism and corruption
The forum strongly condemns the power abuse within in the Somali gov’t, corruption and the widespread nepotism, auctioning the public lands, covert agreements in regard to country’s petroleum, minerals and fish. It also talked about the lack of equal opportunities when it comes to employment chances, contracts, development projects and lack of basic services in the country which caused the country’s economy to fall into the hands of few people who are close to the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The devaluation of lands which negatively impacted local investors. The form also spoke about the stagnation of trade which led that millions of dollars were taken out of the country and was invested in abroad.
- Media and political freedom
The forum strongly condemns the constant violations against the freedom of the media in the country and forcing the public to participate the voter registration exercise in order to take part the election in which they are not happy with it. Imposing restrictions on politicians who wish to travel out of the country and the violation against the journalists’ freedom of the media in the country. The forum strengthens the unity and togetherness of the country, the protection of accords which are the basis of the establishment of the republic of Somalia. They called on to standby the armed forces, puntland defense forces and local defense forces from Hirshabelle state particularly Ma’awisley forces from Hiiraan region who are pursuing the terrorist and extremist groups. The forum underlines that the constitution that has been changed will pose a risk to the state building, unity and togetherness.
It warns the president of political segregation in which his administration is committing against the regional states including Puntland and Jubaland. It also warned the Somali gov’t to stop meddling the affairs of Gedo region. It called on the Somali gov’t to lift the imposed restrictions on the settlements that are under Jubaland regional administration. It calls on the President to immediately suspend selling public lands and to put forward all agreements that he signed with foreign entities regarding the natural resources. It sent a stern warning to the Somali business people to avoid buying public lands that are illegal.
It suggest the political stakeholders of the Somali Federal Gov’t, heads of regional states. The opposition politicians to come together in a meeting in order to save the country from the threat posed by extremist groups and to unite the might and the mobilization which are aimed to prevent their invasion. It also called on to reach a final settlement in regard to political dispute that emanated from the change of the constitution, dispute in elections and the management of the income generated from the natural resources.
The forum supports election process which is broad based which will pave the way for one-man one-vote elections which is in line with the constitution and that the Somali people agreed upon in 2012. The Forum calls on the resumption of the talks between Somaliland and Somalia in order to prevent foreigners who are intending to divide the Somali people. It expressed deep thanks and appreciations to the Somali populace particularly the sects of the Somali populace who positively contributed to the suggestions.
