MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s opposition presidential contenders reignited political consultations in Mogadishu on Monday after months of inertia, as disquiet over governance, corruption and constitutional uncertainty mounts.
The high-profile conclave — branded a “significant consultation conference” — drew heavyweight figures including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, ex-Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Mohamed Hussein Roble, alongside a cohort of federal legislators.
The agenda was dominated by two combustible issues: the country’s precarious security climate and an intensifying row over public land seizures.
In a trenchant address, Mr Sharif condemned what he termed the “alarming escalation” of land grabbing, warning it had reached a crisis point demanding “urgent collective intervention”.
He pressed for decisive safeguards to shield state assets from unlawful appropriation, insisting that only transparency and vigilance could restore public confidence in the stewardship of Somalia’s resources.
The timing of the opposition’s move is politically charged. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud faces mounting scrutiny ahead of his scheduled appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, even as his administration grapples with disunity over the 2026 election model and contentious constitutional amendments.
Parliament’s opening has already been postponed twice without explanation, fuelling speculation about deepening fissures within the political establishment.
Nevertheless, the delays come at a time when Somalia is still battling the Islamist militant group al-Shabab, while simultaneously seeking to stabilise its fragile federal system and reassure international donors of its reform credentials.
