By Abukar Osman - Reporter
Somalia, 26 January 2026 - Former presidential candidate Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has publicly questioned President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s sincerity in calling for national dialogue, alleging the government is using reconciliation talks as political cover while pursuing a hidden agenda of term extension.
In an opinion article published on his Substack page today, Abdishakur, a key member of the opposition Future Council of Somalia, delivered a scathing assessment of the government’s approach to the upcoming February 1st talks.
“The call for dialogue is not made in good faith,” Abdishakur wrote. “It is not aimed at reconciliation or consensus, but at manufacturing political consent and cover for unilateral decisions and a potential term-extension.”
Actions Contradict Words
Abdishakur’s central accusation centers on what he describes as a fundamental contradiction between the President’s public calls for dialogue and his simultaneous actions that deepen the political crisis.
While the government formally invites reconciliation talks, he argues it continues to advance controversial constitutional amendments without broad consensus.
“Despite this formal gesture toward dialogue, the President’s actions continue to contradict its spirit,” he stated, accusing the President of choosing “escalation and polarization” rather than confidence-building measures.
Term Extension Alleged as True Objective
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At the heart of Abdishakur’s skepticism is his assertion that the dialogue is designed to provide political legitimacy for extending the President’s term beyond the May 15 constitutional deadline.
“Extension of the presidential term has become the central driver of the current constitutional confrontation,” he wrote. “Extension is a red line which must and cannot be crossed.”
Opposition Commits with Conditions
Despite his harsh assessment, Abdishakur affirmed that the Future Council would participate in the scheduled talks—but with clear conditions.
“The opposition remains committed to engaging in dialogue in a spirit of reconciliation and national responsibility,” he stated. “It will not, however, be passive or complicit in tactics designed to impose a term extension.”
By publicly questioning the government’s sincerity before talks begin, the opposition positions itself to either claim validation if substantive concessions are made, or justification for walking away if the process proves hollow.
The government has not yet responded to the allegations. The February 1st dialogue will test whether genuine compromise remains possible.
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