Somali opposition conference opens in Mogadishu with focus on elections, security, and leadership
Source: Hiiraan Online, Wednesday May 28, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — A major political conference bringing together key Somali opposition figures opened in Mogadishu on Wednesday, focusing on the country’s political future, security landscape, and electoral process.
The high-profile gathering is seen as a critical moment in Somalia’s evolving power dynamics.
Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is chairing the meeting, which has drawn a powerful bloc of former leaders, including former Prime Ministers Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, Hassan Ali Kheyre, Abdi Farah Shirdoon, and Mohamed Hussein Rooble, former Speakers of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden and Mohamed Mursal, as well as current lawmakers, former ministers, and other influential political figures.
In his opening remarks, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed emphasized the importance of Somalia’s path toward a One-person, One-vote election system. “It is a good idea, but it must be implemented with broad consensus and constitutional respect,” he stated.
Former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble echoed the sentiment, stressing that the conference aims to promote public safety and course correction for the federal government.
“The Somali people have always backed the One Person, One Vote system, but the transfer of responsibility must be done properly and fairly,” he added.
The opposition conference is expected to release a joint communiqué addressing key issues of political legitimacy, security concerns, and election readiness. Participants also plan to elect a formal opposition leadership structure to consolidate their political influence moving forward.
The Federal Government, while not officially represented at the meeting, has recently issued warnings ahead of the event, urging political figures not to mobilize armed security teams in the capital.
The opposition gathering is widely viewed as a demonstration of unity and defiance, highlighting growing frustration with unilateral political decisions and perceived exclusion from the electoral process. The coming days are likely to reveal how the federal government responds — and how the opposition intends to shape the political narrative in the lead-up to the next elections.