Somali President, Opposition Leader End Decade-Long Rivalry

By Maher Ahmed - Reporter

Somalia, 5 January 2026 Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who currently leads the opposition Himilo Qaran Party, have reached a landmark agreement ending their bitter political rivalry in a meeting in Mogadishu.

According to a statement issued by the Himilo Qaran Party late Sunday, the agreement was reached after a meeting held at the former president’s residence, where all personal grievances raised by Sharif Sheikh Ahmed were discussed and resolved, though the specific issues were not disclosed.

“The meeting addressed personal grievances, and a full understanding was reached,” the party said in its statement.

Somalia’s presidency has not yet issued an official statement regarding the meeting. However, the opposition party said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed readiness to convene a national consultative dialogue, a demand long made by opposition political stakeholders.

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The statement added that the president requested Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to play a prominent role in ensuring the success of the proposed dialogue, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive national consensus.

For his part, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed reaffirmed his willingness to participate in any effort that would promote national unity and help resolve Somalia’s ongoing political disputes. He emphasized the importance of unity, compromise, and genuine dialogue.

The agreement comes amid continued political tensions between the federal government and opposition groups, particularly over disagreements related to the 2026 electoral framework and constitutional amendments, which have in recent remained at the center of Somalia’s political divide.

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