MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government on Monday issued a last-minute invitation to the Somali Future Council, an opposition bloc, to attend a national consultative forum in the capital Mogadishu on February 1, 2026, a move seen as an attempt to defuse a looming political crisis just one day before an opposition-set deadline, Arlaadi Media Network (AMN) reports.
In a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the government said it was acting “on the recommendation of the President of the Republic, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud” and was extending “an official invitation to the Somali Future Council.”
The statement added that the forum is part of efforts to strengthen “national unity and cohesion” and to implement “a consultative and consensus-based democratic process,” citing “Article 6 of the Somali Future Council’s appeal.”
The government said a ministerial committee led by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Hassan Moallim Mahmoud Sheikh Ali has been tasked with organising the conference.
The committee will work with the Somali Future Council, which the government urged to appoint its representatives “to jointly discuss the agenda and ensure the forum is productive.”
The announcement comes amid mounting tension between Mogadishu and opposition leaders, who have threatened to declare a rival administration in the northeastern city of Garowe if the government fails to meet the Jan. 20 deadline for convening talks on an election roadmap. Opposition leaders have repeatedly criticised the government for what they describe as a failure to deliver on promises of inclusive dialogue.
The deadline and the government’s response reflect deepening political divisions over the pace and structure of Somalia’s long-delayed electoral process. Analysts say the opposition’s threat to form a parallel administration could undermine efforts to stabilise the country and complicate international support.
Somalia’s political landscape has also been affected by regional developments. In recent months, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland — a self-declared breakaway region in the northwest — has intensified nationalist sentiment and raised concerns about further fragmentation. Mogadishu has condemned the recognition, calling it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, and warned that it could embolden separatist movements.
International partners, including the United Nations and African Union, have repeatedly urged Somali leaders to pursue dialogue and avoid unilateral moves that could deepen instability. But analysts say the window for compromise is narrowing, and the Feb. 1 forum will be closely watched for signs of whether Somalia can still find a political path forward without escalating tensions.
