Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – International diplomats based in Somalia convened a closed-door meeting in Mogadishu on Saturday to address the political deadlock between the Federal Government and opposition leaders. The meeting was initiated by the Turkish Ambassador, despite Turkey not being part of the core C6+ group of international partners engaging Somalia’s political process.
The meeting occurred just 24 hours ahead of the scheduled third round of formal talks between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the opposition alliance known as the National Salvation Forum, which has publicly voiced concern over the government’s proposed electoral framework.
According to diplomatic sources, the Turkish envoy delivered remarks on behalf of the ambassador, calling for calm following recent tensions, including a weapons-laden vessel intercepted off the coast of Puntland. However, the envoy’s primary message focused on persuading the opposition to support the “one person, one vote” electoral model being championed by Villa Somalia.
A participant in the meeting told Dawan Africa that the Turkish representative directly questioned the opposition’s stance, asking, “Why are you rejecting it?” The remark was interpreted by some as evidence of Ankara leaning toward the Federal Government’s position.
“The Turkish side seemed unaware of the complexities of Somalia’s political environment,” said an opposition figure present at the session. “Unlike other international partners, our Turkish counterparts lack experience in Somalia’s internal political and electoral dynamics.”
Recent events point to a broader shift in Turkey’s diplomatic engagement in Somalia. The National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) recently visited Ankara to exchange technical expertise with Turkish electoral institutions. Additionally, senior members of the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), closely aligned with President Hassan Sheikh, also held meetings with Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
These developments suggest a potential departure from Turkey’s historically neutral posture in Somalia, where its involvement has largely focused on development, infrastructure, and security cooperation.
The international community continues to view the ongoing dialogue between Villa Somalia and opposition leaders as the most viable path toward electoral consensus and national stability.
