By Staff Writer
MOGADISHU, Somalia, July 20 — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said on Monday that political consultations on the country’s electoral process were entering a new phase and expressed optimism that the federal government and opposition groups could reach a consensus.
Barre made the remarks while addressing the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the Institute of Da’wah and Islamic Studies at the Somali National University in Mogadishu, where he spoke about the ongoing political dialogue.
“I laud the ongoing political consultations led by the administration that is ongoing these days in Mogadishu which involves political leadership of the country,” Barre said. “So far we see good things ahead and I expect that we will reach consensus.”
The prime minister said the government remained committed to resolving political differences through dialogue rather than confrontation.
“We reaffirm that we will continue engagements through handshake that involves everyone,” he said. “I am very happy political stakeholders have agreed with us on political reforms that involve the Somali citizens. They have agreed that the decision to elect leaders should rest with the Somali people. We are ready to work towards a roadmap.”
Barre’s comments came as government officials and opposition representatives resumed internationally mediated talks in Mogadishu aimed at breaking a prolonged impasse over the country’s electoral model.
However, despite the prime minister’s optimistic assessment, negotiations appeared to make little tangible progress during Monday’s discussions.
According to sources familiar with the talks, technical teams representing the federal government and opposition figures held a second round of mediated negotiations but failed to bridge differences over core issues surrounding the electoral framework.
The sources said a sharp disagreement emerged during the session, leaving negotiators unable to reach common ground and casting uncertainty over the future of the dialogue.
The talks are being facilitated with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu and the British Embassy, which have continued efforts to encourage compromise between the rival political camps.
By the end of the first day of the second round of discussions, no breakthrough had been achieved.
The electoral process has become one of Somalia’s most contentious political issues, with disagreements over the voting model and the broader framework for political reform contributing to tensions between the federal government and opposition leaders.
The federal government has argued that reforms are necessary to expand public participation in choosing political leaders, while opposition figures have raised concerns about the proposed electoral arrangements and have called for broader political consensus before major changes are implemented.
Monday’s negotiations are part of ongoing efforts to reach an inclusive political agreement that could provide a roadmap for Somalia’s next elections and reduce uncertainty over the country’s political transition.
