Somalia: Somalia Government Says Door Remains Open to Talks With Opposition

What the report says

Somalia’s federal government says it is still willing to resume talks with opposition groups as political disputes continue over the country’s expected 2027 elections and constitutional questions. The comments were made by Information Minister Abdifatah Qasim in an interview with an Arab media outlet, according to Shabelle Media Network via AllAfrica.

Qasim said the administration does not object to returning to negotiations and pointed to previous rounds of dialogue between the two sides. He said those discussions had led to agreement on some issues, while other matters remained unresolved and would need further negotiation. The minister framed dialogue as the preferred path for addressing outstanding disputes.

He also said the government opposes armed confrontation, unrest and other actions that could destabilize the country. At the same time, he accused opposition figures of sometimes taking steps that could worsen political tensions. The report places these remarks within a broader debate over Somalia’s electoral framework and constitutional arrangements ahead of the next federal vote.

The issue matters because Somalia has faced recurring political friction over how elections should be organized and how power is structured at the federal level. As reported by Shabelle, the government says it remains committed to political consensus, while critics continue to press concerns over election rules and constitutional changes.