Somali Government invites Opposition for Talks to Resolve Election Stalemate

Somalia, January 19, 2026 Somalia’s federal government has officially invited a prominent opposition alliance for national consultations in Mogadishu, the Prime Minister’s office said on Monday, a move aimed at breaking a long-standing deadlock over the country's next elections.

The summit, scheduled to begin on Feb. 1, follows months of political tension between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and the Somali Future Council, a coalition that includes influential regional leaders and former officials.

The invitation is a direct response to a proposal made by the opposition during a meeting in Kismayo last month. They had called for a broad-based dialogue to reach consensus on the 2026 electoral framework, amid disputes over constitutional changes and the government’s push for a "one-person, one-vote" system.