EXCLUSIVE: Villa Somalia Quietly Embeds Itself Within the So-Called Somali Salvation Forum

GAROWE ONLINE | To many, the so-called Somali Salvation Forum (Golaha Samata-bixinta Soomaaliyeed) has presented itself as a platform for political reform and national unity . But new revelations obtained by Garowe Online indicate that the forum may be straying from its founding purpose. What’s increasingly evident is that Villa Somalia has carefully embedded itself within the group — aligning with well-known political figures whose reputations are rooted in personal ambition.

Trusted sources told Garowe Online that several members of the forum recently met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The meeting, dubbed by insiders as “a barter of national interest,” focused on a plan by Villa Somalia to secure a two-year extension for the current administration’s mandate.

These forum members — some of whom are former senior officials — are reported to have accepted the proposal in exchange for future political appointments. It is, at its core, a transactional political deal driven by narrow interest — one divorced from the public good or Somalia’s constitutional order.

“The July 20 meeting clearly revealed internal fractures within the Forum,” said a well-placed source familiar with the proceedings, who requested anonymity. “The agenda the forum had agreed upon was replaced by a new one advanced by Villa Somalia and its backers, with a sharp focus on a controversial constitutional chapter — unilaterally amended earlier by President Hassan Sheikh.”

According to these sources, several forum members were shocked by the sudden shift in the meeting’s agenda toward the contentious constitutional amendment, which had already been enacted without broad consultation. President Hassan reportedly pledged to hold further discussions with affected parties and suggested the forum could later provide a formal response. However, the forum did not address the issue of the upcoming national elections — arguably the most urgent item on Somalia’s political calendar.

One of the most sensitive revelations indicates that those secretly working with Villa Somalia have promised to persuade former President Sheikh Sharif — the current chairman of the Somali Salvation Forum— to support the plan. Multiple sources confirm that Sheikh Sharif is the only figure whom President Hassan truly sees as a serious political threat, particularly within the political corridors of Mogadishu.

Additional reports confirm that on the night of July 23, President Hassan met privately with three members of the Forum and asked for more time, citing difficulties in gaining consensus among the factions engaged in the constitutional process.

Garowe Online has obtained the names of the forum members involved in the deal, but has chosen not to publish them for now — due to growing concerns about the forum’s credibility and public trust.

Now that previously hidden dealings are coming to light, it’s clear Villa Somalia is no longer just applying political pressure from the outside. It is actively collaborating with select forum members to advance controversial initiatives, including a term extension and an exclusive electoral process.

Political figures within this forum — many of whom hail from southern and central regions of Somalia — must take a principled stand on timely elections. Experts warn that failure to hold elections on schedule could pose a serious threat to the unity of the nation.