Parallel Political Process Emerges as January Deadline Is Set and Term Extensions Rejected

KISMAAYO, Somalia — A consultative conference held in the southern Somali city of Kismaayo has issued a wide-ranging communiqué highlighting deepening political divisions and warning of parallel political processes if an inclusive national conference is not convened by a set deadline.

The three-day meeting, held from Dec. 18 to Dec. 20, brought together leaders from Puntland and Jubbaland, opposition figures, independent politicians, and members of Somalia’s Federal Parliament. Participants reviewed the country’s political direction, security situation, electoral framework, and constitutional order.

In its final statement, the conference sharply criticized the Federal Government, accusing it of unilateral decision-making and failure to maintain national consensus, warning that such actions risk undermining Somalia’s federal system.

The communiqué reaffirmed the 2012 Provisional Constitution as the sole legal foundation of Somalia’s statehood, rejecting any attempts to bypass constitutional processes without broad political agreement.

Elections featured prominently in the discussions. The conference opposed any electoral process limited to a single region, including Banadir, and called for a nationally inclusive, consensus-based framework.

The statement also explicitly rejected any extension of constitutional mandates, stressing that the term of the Federal Parliament ends on April 14, 2026, while the presidential term expires on May 15, 2026. The conference warned that any term extensions would create political instability, constitutional vacuums, and potential security risks.

Significantly, the communiqué set Jan. 20, 2026, as a deadline for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene an inclusive national conference involving all Somali political stakeholders to resolve electoral and constitutional disputes. Failure to do so, it warned, would lead to the continuation of independent consultative processes outside the federal framework.

On security, the conference reaffirmed support for operations against Al-Shabaab and ISIS while cautioning against politicizing security institutions, emphasizing civilian protection, human rights, and institutional neutrality.

The communiqué urged international partners to align their engagement with constitutional governance, inclusive dialogue, and long-term stability, warning that Somalia risks entering a new phase marked by competing political tracks if consensus is not restored.

GAROWE ONLINE