Turkish Bid to Bridge Somalia's Political Divide Stalls Amid Rivalries and Foreign Pressure

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Efforts by Turkey to mediate between Somalia's federal government and opposition groups have encountered setbacks due to technical disagreements and mounting international pressure, sources familiar with the negotiations said.

The talks were expected to advance this week with a meeting between technical committees representing the opposition and the federal government, following an understanding reached by both sides. However, disagreements over which political actors should be formally recognized as part of the opposition have complicated preparations for the next round of discussions.

According to the sources, Turkish mediators had proposed allocating seats on the technical committees to representatives aligned with former Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who oppose the political agenda of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Members of the opposition's Future Council, however, reportedly rejected the proposal, insisting that the committees should be composed solely of their representatives and that negotiations should remain strictly between the council and Villa Somalia. They argued that no third political bloc should be formally recognized within the process.

The dispute has prompted Turkish intelligence-linked mediators to consider returning to Ankara. At the same time, Somali political actors seek an agreement on the structure and format of the dialogue, the sources said. The mediators could resume their role once a consensus is reached on how the negotiations should proceed.

Meanwhile, international partners grouped under the C6+ framework have reportedly increased pressure on the Turkish-led initiative. According to the sources, representatives of the international community expressed concerns that mediation by a single actor would be unacceptable and echoed calls from the Future Council for a broader, more inclusive facilitation mechanism.

Western diplomats have also opposed what they view as an exclusively Turkish mediation effort, arguing that international partners have long been involved in facilitating Somali political dialogue and that Ankara should play a supporting rather than leading role, the sources added.

Neither Turkish officials, the Somali federal government, nor opposition representatives immediately commented on the reported disagreements. The developments underscore the challenges facing efforts to bridge political divisions in Somalia ahead of key national political discussions.

GAROWE ONLINE