Fault Lines Emerge in Kismayo as Opposition Struggles to Unite Around ‘Future Council’

GOOBJOOG NEWS|KISMAYO: Efforts to forge a united opposition front against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ran into immediate turbulence in Kismayo, as sharp divisions surfaced over leadership of a newly formed political platform meant to anchor that unity.

At the centre of the dispute is the proposed leadership of the “Somalia Future Council,” a body established by the Salvation Forum together with the presidents of Puntland and Jubaland. Goobjoog news has learnt that a proposal was put forward naming former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as chair of the Council, with Engineer Abdullahi Abuukar Haaji (Arab) slated to serve as Secretary-General.

But the proposal was reportedly rejected by heavyweight opposition figures and declared presidential aspirants including former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre, former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble, and opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame. Their argument is that Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is himself a candidate and that the Council should be led by a non-candidate to preserve neutrality and cohesion.

In contrast, Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) and former Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdoon (Saacid) have thrown their weight behind Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s candidacy for the role. Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, another central figure at the talks, has not publicly stated his position, leaving his stance a key unknown in the negotiations.

President Madobe has defended his support for Sharif by citing his role in resisting what the opposition describes as an unsanctioned electoral path pursued by President Hassan Sheikh. He said Sharif took significant political risks, including internal divisions among his supporters, and argued it would be inappropriate to marginalise him after he was effectively stripped of leadership within the opposition camp.

Closing Ranks on Secretariat

Sources close to the conference say there is near-unanimous agreement on appointing Engineer Abdullahi Abuukar Haaji (Arab) to head the Secretariat of the Somalia Future Council, making that aspect of the structure one of the few points of consensus so far.

Following the standoff, the conference has been temporarily suspended as senior leaders engage in closed-door consultations aimed at salvaging unity. Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe is holding separate meetings with key figures as efforts continue to bridge differences.

The structure and leadership of the Future Council remain unresolved, with competing positions inside the Salvation Forum catching some delegates off guard.

The opposition and regional state leaders’ conference, which opened on Thursday in Kismayo, was convened to present a coordinated challenge to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and rally around a shared political and electoral agenda. Instead, its opening phase has underscored how difficult translating opposition consensus into practical unity remains.