Somalia’s former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo has called on the international community to intervene in the country’s escalating electoral dispute, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of abandoning negotiations and pursuing a process that could prolong his stay in power.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 17, Farmaajo warned international partners against accepting Hassan Sheikh’s calls for dialogue at face value, arguing that the president had withdrawn from internationally mediated talks intended to resolve disagreements over the country’s electoral framework.
The former president’s intervention comes amid growing tensions between the federal government and opposition politicians following the announcement of a timetable for Somalia’s parliamentary and presidential elections. Opposition figures have rejected the proposed process, deepening uncertainty over how the next elections will be conducted.
Farmaajo accused Hassan Sheikh of undermining efforts to reach a political settlement, claiming that the president’s latest statements reflected an intention to retain power and inflame internal conflict.
He argued that the president’s withdrawal from negotiations, after months of discussions facilitated by international partners, raised questions about the government’s willingness to pursue an inclusive electoral agreement.
“In a situation where the president’s term has expired, his withdrawal from the negotiations that had been ongoing for a long time under the leadership of the international community, and his departure from the agreement that he cannot conduct federal elections without consensus, clearly demonstrate that he is not ready for consultation or an inclusive process, and that his goal is to extend his time in office by conducting an election whose results he will determine,” Farmaajo said.
Farmaajo Issues Warning to International Partners
Farmaajo also directed a strong appeal to foreign governments and international organisations supporting Somalia, urging them to reconsider their approach to negotiations with Hassan Sheikh.
He argued that repeated calls for dialogue would not resolve the dispute unless they were accompanied by a genuine commitment to a transparent election agreed upon by the competing political sides.
The former president maintained that international partners should be cautious about renewed appeals for negotiations, accusing Hassan Sheikh of using the prospect of dialogue without demonstrating the willingness required to reach an inclusive settlement.
“We call on Somalia’s international partners, who have been working to resolve the electoral dispute, not to be misled again by calls for agreement and negotiations presented by the president whose term has expired, since there is no goodwill or willingness on his part to achieve a transparent and inclusive election,” Farmaajo said.
His appeal places renewed attention on the role of international partners, who have been involved in efforts to facilitate an agreement between the federal government and opposition leaders over the electoral impasse.
However, Farmaajo did not outline specific measures he wanted international partners to take beyond urging them not to be persuaded by what he described as insincere calls for dialogue.