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MOGADISHU, 25 October 2026 — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday extended a formal invitation to the country’s politicians to join a dialogue forum, saying his government was ready to sit down with anyone who holds a different view.
The door to dialogue is open at all times and under any circumstances, Mohamud said in a televised address to the nation, adding that his government was ready for talks and compromise.
“I take this opportunity to extend a formal invitation to all politicians to a dialogue forum, which we will deliver through official channels,” he said.
The invitation will be formally conveyed to politicians. Dawan Media has learned that the stalled political talks are expected to resume in early November.
Mohamud said the government wanted to hear the opposition’s proposals and discuss issues critical to the country’s future.
“Differences of opinion are not a bad thing if they are managed through dialogue and mutual respect,” he said.
He, however, set limits on what dialogue would mean.
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“The power to decide cannot be left in the middle.” he said, explaining that this did not mean the government rejected consultation, but that a clear line must be drawn between governing and consulting. Without that distinction, he warned, the country would resemble “a place ruled by chaos.”
He urged opposition politicians and Somali elders and intellectuals to put the national interest first and to avoid any action that could undermine the country’s stability and unity.
“I believe Somalia’s future can be built on unity, cooperation and respect for the will of the people,” he said.
The invitation came as Mohamud defended the one-person, one-vote elections held in South West, Galmudug and Hirshabelle states and the Banadir region. He said 1,824,853 citizens had registered to vote and 1,435 officials had been elected by popular vote.
Responding to criticism of the process, the president acknowledged that not everything had gone as hoped, citing a Somali proverb that roughly translates as “only the unborn son is without fault.”
He also welcomed former officials and politicians who had accepted the election results despite their differences.
Mohamud closed his speech with a pledge that the government would continue the fight against Islamist militant group al Shabaab, strengthen security and press ahead with one-person, one-vote elections, and called on Somalis to stand behind the national armed forces.