Mogadishu – Somali politics has experienced months of high political tension, as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the opposition united under the Somali Council for the Future engaged in several critical meetings. These meetings, which included both official talks and independent gatherings, focused on the format of the upcoming federal elections and the future of the country’s constitution. Ultimately, these talks have ended in failure.
Here is a detailed breakdown of how the most significant meetings between the two sides unfolded, based on the information provided.
1. The Opposition Consolidates: The Somali Council for the Future’s Meetings
Before the official talks even began, the opposition was busy preparing their strategy by holding several major conferences.
- The Kismayo Summit (December 2025): The Council held a large conference in Kismayo, where the administrations of Puntland, Jubaland, and the Salvation Forum united. This was the platform from which they issued their initial call for dialogue with the federal government.
- The Garowe Meeting (January 2026): Following the Kismayo summit, technical committees from the Council met in Garowe to develop a practical plan, culminating in a formal call for President Hassan Sheikh to convene a national conference.
- The Airport Hotel Meeting (February 14-16, 2026): Upon arriving in Mogadishu, the Presidents of Puntland and Jubaland (Said Deni and Ahmed Madoobe) immediately began organizing. They gathered the leadership of the Somali Council for the Future, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Mohamed Hussein Roble, at the Airport Hotel to unify their stance ahead of the talks with the government.
- Consultative Meetings (February 11-16, 2026): In addition, Deni and Madoobe held several meetings with MPs from their regions, independent politicians, and international diplomats to brief them on their concerns regarding the government’s electoral plans.
2. The Talks Between the Sides: From Lunch to Collapse
Following political and international pressure, President Hassan Sheikh and the opposition were finally seen sitting at the same table. The official dialogue reportedly spanned three non-consecutive days, going through three distinct phases:
| Date | Type of Meeting | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2026 | Lunch Banquet | Mogadishu | The President hosted a preliminary meeting with opposition figures as a precursor to starting formal dialogue. |
| February 18, 2026 | Political Talks | Villa Somalia | The President officially opened the first face-to-face meeting, discussing the security situation and electoral matters. |
| February 19, 2026 | Political Talks (Day 2) | Villa Somalia | A disagreement emerged between the two sides over the agenda. The government insisted on holding direct elections (one person, one vote), while the opposition argued this was not feasible and called for a return to an expanded indirect clan-based electoral model. |
| February 21-22, 2026 | Follow-up Meetings | Mogadishu | Despite efforts to salvage the talks, they ultimately ended in failure after President Hassan Sheikh refused to revert to the previous indirect election system. |
3. Post-Collapse: The Current Situation
The failure of the talks has left both sides in a state of continued political maneuvering. While President Ahmed Madoobe has promptly left Mogadishu, Said Deni remained in the capital to continue meetings with various political stakeholders. On the other side, President Hassan Sheikh is said to be sticking to his plan for direct elections, asserting there will be no return to the old system. With no agreement reached, the country faces significant challenges on how to organize the upcoming elections.
