Former Somali president to skip Kismayo summit, opposition outlines reasons

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo will not attend a political summit scheduled to begin Thursday in Kismayo, opposition figures and lawmakers said Wednesday.

Lawmaker Abdirashid Xidig, a member of the House of the People and part of the Somali Salvation Forum, said Farmaajo supports the objectives of the summit but is not part of the organizing body, which explains his absence.

“Farmaajo is welcome to participate, but he is not part of the organizing committee,” Xidig told reporters, dismissing suggestions that political tensions with Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam were behind the former president’s absence.

The Kismayo summit is expected to bring together opposition leaders and delegations from federal member states to discuss key national issues, including arrangements for the 2026 elections, political reconciliation, and strengthening national dialogue.

Opposition figures have previously criticized the federal government for delays in setting up essential institutions, such as a constitutional court and a comprehensive voter registry, which they say threaten the electoral process.

While Farmaajo will not be present, the summit is seen as a crucial opportunity for opposition leaders to coordinate their political positions and prepare for the upcoming election cycle.

GAROWE ONLINE