MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s National Future Council, a coalition bringing together opposition leaders and the presidents of Jubaland and Puntland states, has agreed to attend government-led talks aimed at ending a deepening political standoff over the country’s delayed elections.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the council said Somalia stood at a critical crossroads, warning that the nation’s unity and territorial integrity were under grave threat and required urgent protection. It cautioned that the prolonged political paralysis was creating fertile ground for militant groups, including Al-Shabaab, to exploit the uncertainty.
The council said it was prepared to engage in dialogue, stressing that the talks must be conducted in good faith and produce concrete outcomes. It called for a decisive end to the long-running dispute over the model and timetable for the parliamentary and presidential elections
Earlier this week, the federal government announced it would convene talks with political stakeholders, responding to mounting pressure from the opposition to urgently resolve the electoral impasse. The announcement has been broadly welcomed by political actors across the country.
The move follows a meeting in Kismayo last month, where the opposition council issued the federal government with a one-month ultimatum – which expired on January 20 – to reach a comprehensive agreement on elections with all stakeholders. The council warned that failure to do so would lead it to organise parallel elections and establish a rival administration, raising fears of further political fragmentation.
The planned talks are now seen as a crucial test of Somalia’s ability to avert a deeper constitutional crisis and steer the country back towards a consensual political path.
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