MOGADISHU (WDN) – High-stakes negotiations between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Somalia’s opposition leaders ended in deadlock on Sunday, with both sides unable to bridge sharp differences over controversial constitutional amendments.

According to political sources, the presidency requested that the meeting be postponed to Wednesday, August 13, in a bid to keep dialogue alive. Opposition figures agreed to the delay, but insiders say members of the president’s inner circle pushed back against key concessions, urging him to hold further internal consultations before making commitments.

At the heart of the dispute are constitutional changes introduced by the president over the past two years and the unilateral one-person, one-vote election currently underway. The opposition, led by former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed under the “Somali Salvation Council” banner, is demanding a full reversal. President Hassan reportedly offered a partial rollback, limited to sections of Chapter Four, but the proposal was swiftly rejected.

While both camps agreed to hold off on issuing a joint statement until further talks, the stalemate underscores the depth of political division in Mogadishu—leaving Wednesday’s meeting as a crucial test for whether the two sides can avoid a prolonged constitutional crisis.

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