Somalia’s Government, Opposition Reach Preliminary Deal on Venue for talks 

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government and an opposition alliance have reached a preliminary agreement on holding a long-awaited consultative conference at the presidential palace in Mogadishu, according to reliable sources familiar with the talks.

The meeting is expected to bring together the Federal Government of Somalia and the opposition coalition known as the Somali Future Council.

Sources said the decision followed a request by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, with both sides showing flexibility and compromise to create conditions for formal dialogue.

Technical negotiations are still underway to finalize procedures and ensure the conference can be officially convened in the coming days, the sources added.

On Tuesday, Hassan Sheikh hosted a luncheon meeting at the Hotel Decale with politicians from the Somali Future Council and members of the technical committee organizing the talks. The gathering, described as a preliminary step, signaled mutual concessions and efforts to build confidence ahead of broader negotiations proposed by the federal government.

Following the luncheon, both government and opposition representatives told reporters that they had reached an understanding on disputed issues, including the venue for the dialogue.

Separately, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre held a private meeting late Tuesday with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam. The talks focused on supporting efforts to ensure the consultative conference takes place.

The agreement on the venue is being viewed as an important step toward easing longstanding political tensions and preventing a breakdown in dialogue between the government and opposition figures.

GAROWE ONLINE