Under mounting pressure, Somali President agreed to initiate talks with the opposition

MOGADISHU, Somalia - After weeks of fierce criticism by members of the opposition, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reportedly agreed to hold talks with the opposition next month, which accuses him of, among others, mutilation of the constitution and oppression.

The international community has also piled more pressure on him, demanding immediate dialogue for the sake of stability and peace. The political temperatures in the country have simmered in recent weeks due to ongoing constitutional changes.

Envoys in Mogadishu have already expressed concerns about divisions, noting that elections without consensus shall trigger further divisions. While Hassan Sheikh wants direct polls, some states are pushing for the status quo, clan-based model.

The meet-up between Hassan Sheikh and opposition leaders was hinted at by Ali Ba'ad, the state minister for foreign affairs. There are deliberate efforts to bring the opposition to the table to fix disputes over the electoral process and the constitutional amendments. 

On Friday, the opposition mobilised a convoy of armed vehicles through central Mogadishu on their way to the Moalim Nur centre — a symbolic venue that served as a planning hub during opposition protests against former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term extension in 2021.

Hassan Sheikh, then in opposition, was part of the team putting pressure on Farmajo, and apparently, he finds himself in similar circumstances that could destabilise the country. Somalia has been fighting for stability for the last three decades.

GAROWE ONLINE