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“Young Somalis should not be treated only as tomorrow’s leaders. We are citizens today, with legitimate interests in national decisions.” Zamzam Daqare
When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud invited opposition groups and other political stakeholders to talks scheduled for 14–18 November, my first reaction was cautiously hopeful, but also somewhat sceptical.
Dialogue is always preferable to political confrontation, particularly when Somalia faces important questions about its electoral future. However, we have witnessed political disagreements and negotiations before. The challenge has often been translating discussions into agreements that can be implemented and trusted.
As a young Somali journalist who closely follows the country’s political developments, I find myself looking beyond the immediate disagreements between the government and opposition.
My concern is not simply which political position will prevail or what electoral arrangement will emerge. I am more interested in a question that receives far less attention: When Somalia’s political leaders negotiate the country’s future, whose future are they negotiating?
Somalia’s current political dispute involves fundamental questions about elections, constitutional arrangements and the country’s democratic direction.
The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has announced parliamentary elections for 15 April 2027 and a presidential election for 15 May 2027. Opposition groups have challenged the timetable, arguing that an inclusive political agreement is needed to ensure a credible electoral process.
The government, meanwhile, has defended its commitment to direct elections as part of Somalia’s democratic development.
These disagreements deserve serious consideration. Elections determine how political authority is exercised, how institutions derive legitimacy and how citizens participate in choosing their leaders.
However, the significance of the November dialogue should not be measured simply by whether political leaders sit around the same table or sign another agreement. It should be measured by whether they establish a credible political process that strengthens public confidence and provides a clear direction for the country.
For many young Somalis, political stability is not an abstract concept discussed in government offices or political conferences. It is closely connected to finding employment after graduation, establishing a business, accessing quality education and building a future in Somalia.
Consider a university graduate searching for work, a young entrepreneur hoping to expand a business or a student preparing to enter the workforce. Their immediate concerns may not involve constitutional provisions or electoral procedures, but today’s political decisions can shape the environment in which they pursue their ambitions.
Prolonged political uncertainty can weaken confidence in public institutions, complicate economic planning and distract attention from policies needed to address unemployment, education, security and essential services.
Of course, Somalia’s economic and social challenges cannot be attributed solely to political disagreements. The country faces complex security, institutional and development problems that require sustained attention regardless of who governs. Yet political stability provides an important foundation for addressing these challenges.
Young Somalis are not disconnected from politics. We understand that decisions made in government institutions, parliamentary chambers and political negotiations have consequences beyond the political figures involved.
What concerns me is the possibility that recurring disagreements will continue consuming national attention while the priorities of ordinary citizens remain unresolved.
Political negotiations should therefore serve a broader purpose than settling disputes among competing groups. Their outcomes should help create conditions in which people can pursue their ambitions with greater confidence.
One question deserves greater attention ahead of the November talks: Do young Somalis have a meaningful voice in decisions about their country’s political future?
Somalia has a predominantly young population, yet younger generations do not always have opportunities to influence major national decisions.
Young people are frequently described as the future of the country. Their importance is acknowledged in speeches, conferences and public statements. But recognition does not automatically translate into representation.
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I believe young Somalis should have a meaningful place in political consultations, particularly when discussions concern elections, governance and constitutional arrangements that will shape their lives for years to come.
This does not mean assuming that young people share one political position. We come from different communities, educational backgrounds and economic circumstances, with different experiences and expectations. Meaningful participation should reflect that diversity.
It should also go beyond inviting a few young representatives to attend meetings or appear in photographs. Young people should be able to contribute ideas, raise concerns from their communities and have their views genuinely considered.
Their involvement should not merely reinforce the positions of established political groups. It should create space for independent perspectives that might otherwise remain unheard.
Young Somalis should not be treated only as tomorrow’s leaders. We are citizens today, with legitimate interests in how our country is governed.
The November dialogue presents an opportunity for the government, opposition groups and other stakeholders to address their disagreements through discussion rather than prolonged confrontation. But a successful meeting and a successful political process are not necessarily the same thing.
Any agreement should provide clarity about the electoral framework, establish realistic responsibilities and timelines, and demonstrate a commitment to implementation. It should also be sufficiently transparent for citizens to understand what has been agreed and how those decisions affect their political rights.
Compromise should not be mistaken for weakness. Political leaders can defend their principles while recognising that responsible leadership sometimes requires finding common ground.
At the same time, an agreement that resolves an immediate disagreement without addressing its underlying causes may simply postpone another confrontation.
The objective should be a credible process that strengthens institutions, respects legitimate political differences and commands public confidence.
For young Somalis, such progress would help create an environment in which national attention can increasingly focus on education, employment, security and economic development.
My message to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the opposition leaders preparing for these discussions is straightforward: Somalia is bigger than any individual, government or political organisation.
Political competition is legitimate, and disagreements over elections and constitutional questions deserve serious debate. But those differences should not overshadow the responsibility to protect the country’s stability and institutions.
Somalis need more than another political agreement. They need a credible way forward that allows political disagreements to be managed peacefully and gives citizens confidence in the country’s direction.
For my generation, the stakes extend beyond the next election. We want to live in a country where institutions function, opportunities exist and young people can participate meaningfully in shaping national decisions.
The leaders gathering in November will understandably be concerned with electoral arrangements, constitutional questions and their respective political positions. But they should also remember the generation that will inherit the consequences of their decisions.
History will judge this period not simply by who won the political argument, but by whether its leaders made decisions that strengthened Somalia’s future.
The question is not merely whether Somalia’s political leaders can reach an agreement. It is whether they can agree on a future that the next generation can believe in.
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About the Author
Zamzam Daqare is a Somali political journalist and editor.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Dawan Africa.