Mogadishu (WDN)- Talks between Somalia’s Federal Government and opposition groups entered their second round on Thursday, with Turkey and representatives of the international community continuing to facilitate negotiations aimed at breaking the country’s prolonged political deadlock.

The meeting is reported to be planned as a series of separate sessions with each opposition group to address the issues at the core of Somalia’s political instability and build sufficient common ground before convening all parties for a joint dialogue.

According to the schedule, the first session at 10:00 am brings together federal government negotiators and a delegation from the Nabad iyo Nolol political movement appointed by former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. Turkish facilitators and international observers are attending the discussions, listening to the positions and arguments presented by both sides.

A second meeting, scheduled for 1:00 p.m., will see government representatives meet members of the Somalia Future Council, another opposition alliance, to discuss the key issues that continue to divide the rival camps.

The second round of meeting is expected to focus on Somalia’s most contentious political issues, including constitutional changes and the framework for future elections—two disputes that have deepened divisions between the government and its opponents.

The negotiations, which began on July 7, have so far been conducted in a calm atmosphere despite deep political disagreements. Both sides are engaged in detailed discussions in the hope of reaching a broader political settlement.

The opposition has tabled an alternative electoral roadmap that it believes is more realistic and capable of winning broad political support. The Federal Government, however, remains committed to implementing universal one-person, one-vote elections, arguing that the model would restore political power directly to Somali citizens.

Despite the diplomatic optimism surrounding the talks, Turkey’s role as facilitator remains a point of debate. While Ankara has positioned itself as a mediator and enjoys close ties with the Federal Government, many opposition figures and sections of the Somali public do not view Turkey as a fully neutral interlocutor because of its longstanding political, security, and economic partnership with Mogadishu. That perception has fueled skepticism in some quarters about Ankara’s ability to act as an impartial broker, even as international representatives continue to support the dialogue process.

The negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of a wider political crisis that has previously triggered security tensions and armed confrontations in Mogadishu, underscoring the high stakes of the ongoing dialogue and the urgent need for a consensus-based political agreement.

WardheerNews