The Salvation and National Rescue Council which brings together members of the opposition politicians confirmed that the meeting they held with the President of the Somali Federal Gov’t, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ended without an outcome. The Spokesman of the Salvation and National Rescue Council, Dahir Mohamud Geele said that they held hard debate with the incumbent Somali President about the 4 points on the agenda of the meeting.
The two sides agreed on June 25, 2025 that the four points of the agenda will be the basis for the dialogue which is aimed to find a resolution to thorny issues that the two sides disagreed. He demonstrated that they held a heated debate on the transitional constitution, but they did not reach a final agreement.
He said: “We held a hard debate on the constitutional issues, but we failed to reach an agreement. We spent a lot of time discussing on this issue.” He made the remarks after he held a press conference in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. He said: “Therefore, we wrapped up the debate. The gov’t requested to fix a date in order to come together and hold further discussions before July 20, 2025. The reason is that we submitted our view. They told us that they will take time.”
He further added that they are awaiting an information from the Somali Federal Gov’t particularly a view that is acceptable and leaves a legacy. It is not yet clear how Villa Somalia will relinquish the amendment that was made to the units of the transitional constitution last year and to hold one-man one-vote in the country although there is an int’l pressure to hold an inclusive and an agreeable elections in the country.
The incumbent Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on March 31, 2024 officially signed the amendment of the constitution particularly the first four units; a day after the bicameral Somali Federal Parliament approved the constitutional amendment. The constitution amendment paved the way for the implementation of one-man one-vote in the country over decades which is based on community representation and is taking the country to a new direction particularly to the state building in the country.
He said that the completion of the constitution will be the foundation of democracy, equality among all Somali citizens and building efficient, strong and robust gov’t institutions. The opposition consisting of former Prime Ministers, former parliament speaker and former Somali President, Shariif Sheikh Ahmed, strongly opposed the intention of the Somali Federal Gov’t to hold elections in which it is administering it. This made the controversy between the two sides to linger.
It seems that the President is still adamant to his decision to return the election to the public in order to choose their leaders who will represent them. Opposition politicians’ biggest argument is that it is compulsory that the upcoming election will be one that is agreed upon all and that the two sides to work towards its realization. Officials of the Somali Federal Gov’t scathingly criticized the opposition groups on several occasions that they want to return to the indirect elections to be held in Afisiyoni tent and termed it unacceptable. Once you have a look at the security and political obstacles which exist in many parts of the country; it is unknown how to ensure that it can be held efficient public elections in the nationwide.
