Mogadishu (WDN)- The Forum for the Future of Somalia concluded its conference on Thursday, December 20 in Kismayo, issuing a strong statement calling on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene a national dialogue of Somalia’s political stakeholders within one month, ending January 20, 2026. The proposed talks would focus on organizing timely, inclusive, and credible elections.

In its statement, the Forum firmly rejected any extension of the current federal government’s mandate, underscoring that the term of the Federal Parliament expires on April 14, 2026, while the President’s term ends on May 15, 2026.

The Forum further expressed its readiness to engage President Hassan Sheikh in negotiations to agree on an electoral model that would be more advanced, inclusive, and transparent than the 2022 election process.

The council warned that if the President fails to respond to the call for dialogue, the Forum would proceed with developing and leading its own election roadmap.

People who spoke to WardheerNews about the conference and its outcome described as a rare and much-needed consensus, signaling a clear message that the Hassan Sheikh administration cannot unilaterally control the political transition or the planning of the 2026 elections.

However, others cautioned that Somalia’s political process remains dominated by a narrow elite that alternates between ruling and opposition roles. They argue that the space for Somali intellectuals, civil society, and independent voices to meaningfully contribute to national security, governance, and long-term political stability remains limited—leaving unresolved the deeper structural challenges that have plagued the country for more than 35 years.

WardheerNews