Mogadishu, Somalia (Dawan Africa) – Tensions between the Somali government and the opposition have escalated as the latter rejected the President’s invitation to attend the upcoming “Gogosha” platform dialogue conference, scheduled for June 15th, 2025. This platform was envisioned as a space for political dialogue, aimed at resolving Somalia’s ongoing political divisions and strengthening national unity.
The opposition, led by the Somali Salvation Forum, issued a statement on June 9th, criticizing the President’s approach to national dialogue. According to the statement, the meetings scheduled for June 15th and 22nd will merely serve as efforts by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to seek support for his previous policies, which they argue have contributed to political conflict and distrust. The opposition warned that these efforts would undermine the goodwill that the forum has cultivated and dishearten both the public and Somalia’s international partners.
“The meetings that the President is holding on the 15th and 22nd of this month are seen as attempts to gain support for the same path he previously followed, which caused conflicts and a lack of trust,” said the opposition in a press release. “This action will harm the goodwill that the Salvation Forum has fostered and dishearten the public and Somalia’s allies who had hopes for the forum.”
In response, Somalia’s government officials have strongly condemned the opposition’s stance, accusing them of hypocrisy and disinterest in meaningful dialogue. Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi responded with harsh words, stating that the opposition’s rejection of the dialogue conference reveals their unwillingness to engage in discussions for the country’s future.
“They claim that the president closed the doors on them and refuses to engage in dialogue, yet when an opportunity for talks is offered, they reject it,” Minister Fiqi remarked. “They were all busy celebrating Eid abroad, and none of them were in the country, yet they continue to issue press statements from overseas! They have crowded the diplomatic missions, and they are in disarray. But when the country’s leaders extend invitations, they refuse to engage. Now, they claim they are the ones working to save the country, but in reality, it is they who are in desperate need of rescue!”
Abdulkadir Mohamed Nor, the Minister of ports and marine transport , also weighed in on the issue, claiming that the opposition’s actions reflect a disregard for Somalia’s democratic process and national progress.
“We are not going back, nor are we staying here. This is the message from the opposition. I have already made it clear that the agenda is not a Somali agenda. The country’s progress is determined by the President. One person, one vote,” Minister Nor declared.
Adding further fuel to the fire, sources close to former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo have confirmed that he will not attend the “Gogosha” platform meeting on June 15th, deepening the divide within the political landscape.
The rejection of the dialogue conference by the opposition comes at a time when the Somali public and international community had expressed hopes for a breakthrough in the political impasse. However, with the refusal of key opposition figures to participate, the outcome of the upcoming meeting remains uncertain.
As tensions mount, it remains to be seen whether the government and opposition can find common ground in the pursuit of Somalia’s stability and future.
