Hornpost
KISMAYO, Somalia — (Hornpost)Somalia’s widening political divisions were on full display in Kismayo on Monday as regional leaders and opposition figures convened for the Somalia Future Conference, issuing a mix of sharp criticism and measured warnings over President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s proposed electoral roadmap.
The conference, taking place at the Kismayo Guest House, aims to chart Somalia’s future political direction, reinforce national consultation, and address governance and stability challenges. However, discussions have been dominated by deep disagreements over the electoral process and the balance of power between the federal government and member states.
Among those in attendance are Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe), as well as former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khaire, Mohamed Hussein Roble, and Abdi Farah Shirdon (Saacid). Opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame and several lawmakers and senior political figures are also participating.
At the center of the dispute is the opposition’s claim that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is advancing an electoral framework without sufficient national consensus. Critics argue that the proposed model centralizes authority within the presidency and the national electoral commission, weakening the federal system and sidelining regional administrations.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni delivered one of the most forceful critiques, questioning the legality of excluding federal member states from key decisions.
“It is unconstitutional and unlawful to tell federal member states to step aside while one authority claims full control. Somalia is a federal state, not a centralized one,” Deni said.
“Somalia is a federal country, and major political decisions require agreement with federal member states. It is not lawful to proceed without that understanding,” Deni said.
Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe framed the disagreement as a principled political dispute rather than a personal confrontation.
“I do not oppose President Hassan Sheikh as an individual. Our disagreement is about Somali interests. Elections cannot be credible if they are designed and managed without genuine consultation,” he told the conference.
Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed struck a cautionary tone, warning that unilateral political moves risk unraveling hard-won gains.
“Xasanoow, this country has been rebuilt piece by piece over many years. Do not scatter it again through decisions that divide Somalis,” he said.
“Somalia has been rebuilt gradually over many years. Preserving that progress requires dialogue, compromise, and shared responsibility,” he said.
Other speakers, including former prime ministers and opposition lawmakers, echoed concerns about the independence of the electoral commission and warned that a contested process could lead to political paralysis or renewed instability.
The Kismayo discussions reflect a broader national context marked by fragile state-building efforts, unresolved constitutional questions, and persistent tensions between the federal government and member states. While President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has argued that electoral reforms are necessary to advance democracy and governance, opposition leaders insist that reforms must be rooted in consensus to avoid deepening political rifts.
Analysts note that Somalia’s political history shows that disputed electoral processes often translate into prolonged stalemates, weakening security coordination and distracting from pressing challenges such as counterterrorism, economic recovery, and humanitarian needs.
As the conference continues, participants have called for renewed dialogue and a negotiated electoral framework that balances federal authority with regional autonomy. Whether these appeals will translate into compromise remains uncertain, but the Kismayo meeting has underscored the depth of Somalia’s current political fault lines and the risks they pose to national stability.
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Prepared: Hornpost staff Reporter
