By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 21 June 2026 – Somali opposition politician Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame said the opposition expects Turkey’s mediation in Somalia’s political dispute to be inclusive and coordinated with other efforts led by Western countries and the United Nations.
Abdishakur, leader of the opposition Wadajir Party, made the remarks in an interview with Dawan Media's Mizan Podcast. He said the Turkish delegation involved in the mediation had met the government, opposition figures and former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
He said Turkey initially sought to speak to politicians individually, but the opposition believed the process should deal with existing political platforms and structures.
“We told them: we are a strategy and a platform, not individuals,” Abdishakur said.
Abdishakur said Turkey had significant influence over the current administration, particularly President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, but did not have the same level of influence over the opposition and other political figures.
He said some opposition members perceived Turkey as leaning toward the government, although he added that such a position would not necessarily be harmful if it produced positive pressure toward a political settlement.
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“Perception is important; what people believe about you is important,” he said.
Abdishakur said the opposition wanted mediation efforts to be well coordinate and that no opposition figure should be excluded from the talks.
He said the Turkish-led effort and the process involving the United States, Britain, the European Union and the United Nations should be consolidated.
“We want them to be aligned,” Abdishakur said, warning that competing foreign influence could become an obstacle to a political settlement.
He said any successful mediation would require agreement among Somali political actors and international partners on how to approach the dispute.
Abdishakur added that the opposition wanted an inclusive dialogue that builds on previous efforts and does not sideline any political actor.