Talks Collapse at Villa Somalia Amid Deep Dispute Over Election Model

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The second round of talks between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and opposition leaders grouped under the Somali Future Council has collapsed without agreement, exposing deep divisions over the country’s electoral framework.

The meeting, held at Villa Somalia on Sunday, ended in deadlock on Sunday after both sides failed to reconcile differences on key political issues tied to Somalia’s upcoming elections, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

At the center of the dispute is the government’s push for a one-person, one-vote electoral system, a model President Mohamud insists should guide the country’s political transition. The system has previously been endorsed by the National Consultative Council but remains contested by opposition figures.

Members of the Somali Future Council, which brings together prominent opposition leaders, rejected what they described as unilateral decision-making at a time when the government’s constitutional term is nearing its end. They argued that any major political decisions, particularly on elections, must be based on a broad consensus among all stakeholders.

The disagreement has heightened political uncertainty in the Horn of Africa nation, with opposition figures warning against the risks of a disputed election process or a potential extension of the current administration’s mandate.

There was no immediate indication of when the two sides would resume talks.

GAROWOE ONLINE