Somalia: President Hassan Sheikh meets opposition as election stalemate looms

MOGADISHU, Somalia - For the third time this year, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a meeting with several opposition leaders, with the contested constitutional amendments featuring even as the future of elections remains uncertain.

The opposition leaders arrived at Villa Somalia for the talks in the absence of Jubaland President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe and his Puntland counterpart, Said Abdullahi Deni, who have been leading the protest against the federal government.

Although the agenda of the meeting remains a closely guarded secret, there are reports that the controversial constitutional changes proposed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud are on top of the agenda in the discussions.

In the proposals, Hassan Sheikh wants to shift from the traditional indirect elections to universal suffrage, an idea opposed by Puntland and Jubaland, along with opposition bigwigs. For the past two decades, the indirect model of elections has dictated Somalia’s politics.

For opposition, the support for direct polls remains unwavering, but the problem remains that the government lacks capacity, time and territorial control to implement it without interruptions. This, they say, could plunge the country into a term extension conflict.

They point to the government’s limited influence outside the capital, Mogadishu, and the vast areas still under the control of the militant group Al-Shabaab. The al-Shabaab is fighting to control the federal government of Somalia.

The opposition insists that any shift to direct elections must include all regions of the country, including areas under militant control — a goal they say is unrealistic under current security conditions.

The expedited passage of the supportive bills in parliament has escalated tensions, with stakeholders asking Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to seek dialogue. The situation remains fluid with just a few months before the next elections.

This year, Al-Shabaab took control of Aadan Yabaal in Middle Shabelle region and Moqokori in Hiiraan region from Somali government troops, a major blow to the planned direct vote in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE