Somalia: Turkey renews mediation efforts as election dispute talks set to resume

MOGADISHU, July 6 – Turkish intelligence representatives have arrived in Mogadishu ahead of a fresh round of mediation efforts aimed at resolving Somalia's political deadlock over elections, with talks between the federal government and opposition expected to resume this week, sources familiar with the process said on Monday.

The sources said the Turkish delegation is scheduled to hold separate meetings on Tuesday with committees representing the Federal Government and the opposition before direct negotiations begin on Wednesday under the facilitation of Western representatives.

The renewed diplomatic push comes after previous mediation efforts failed to produce a breakthrough, with the opposition's Somali Future Council declining to engage in Turkish-led talks alone, arguing that Ankara could not act as a sufficiently neutral mediator.

Opposition figures have previously questioned Turkey's ability to bridge the widening divide between the rival camps, saying its diplomatic influence was insufficient to persuade both sides to compromise without broader international involvement.

Meanwhile, reports say Turkish officials, following earlier consultations in Ankara, conveyed a pessimistic assessment to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, warning that sustaining the current political course without a comprehensive agreement before October 2026 would be increasingly difficult.

The reported assessment has not been independently confirmed, and neither Turkish officials nor Somalia's presidency has publicly commented on the claim.

The talks are seen as part of broader international efforts to break the impasse over Somalia's electoral process and avert a deeper political crisis.

GAROWE ONLINE