Somalia’s President Announces New Political Forum Amid NCC’s Collapse into Ruling Party Bloc

Mogadishu – The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has officially announced a national political consultative forum scheduled to take place in Mogadishu on June 15, 2025. The forum is expected to bring together politicians, community leaders, and key political stakeholders from across the country.

A statement from the Office of the President described the forum as an opportunity to unify differing perspectives and deliberate on critical national matters, particularly the electoral process, national security, and institutional reforms.

The announcement comes at a politically sensitive time, following a joint statement by opposition leaders who rejected Villa Somalia’s proposed electoral roadmap. With less than a year remaining in President Hassan Sheikh’s term, critics have accused him of attempting to orchestrate a term extension through unilateral decision-making.

Observers note that this new forum comes at a time when the former National Consultative Council (NCC) has effectively lost its credibility and relevance. Once a vital platform for dialogue between the federal government and member states, the NCC is now widely seen as defunct after three of the five federal member states aligned politically with the ruling party led by President Hassan Sheikh. This consolidation of political power under a single bloc has intensified concerns over the inclusivity and neutrality of the upcoming forum.

Since taking office, President Hassan Sheikh’s administration has faced mounting criticism over alleged unconstitutional interference in the federal provisional constitution, including controversial attempts to amend key articles without broad national consensus. His government has also been plagued by escalating corruption allegations, with watchdog groups and opposition figures accusing Villa Somalia of centralizing financial power and mismanaging public funds.

Furthermore, critics argue that the initial momentum behind the government’s military campaign against Al-Shabaab has significantly waned. The once highly publicized offensive has stalled, and many now claim the government has deprioritized the fight against the terror group amid growing internal political struggles.

The upcoming forum is seen by many as a strategic move by Villa Somalia to reclaim political legitimacy. However, whether it will restore national consensus or deepen existing divides remains uncertain.

GAROWE ONLINE