Somalia Election Talks Begin as Government, Opposition Technical Teams Meet

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Technical committees representing the federal government and opposition groups held their first formal meeting on Wednesday, opening negotiations aimed at resolving political differences and agreeing on a unified electoral framework.

Officials said the talks, involving representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali Future Council, began in a constructive atmosphere and reflected a shared willingness to move forward on key national issues.

The meeting is intended to prepare the ground for broader consultations between the government and opposition on the country’s election model, a long-running and sensitive political issue.

Negotiations are expected to continue on Thursday, with the technical discussions feeding into a National Consultative Meeting scheduled to open on Feb. 1. That meeting is expected to bring together senior national leaders and opposition figures in an effort to reach consensus on the next steps for Somalia’s democratic process.

The officials said the outcome of the talks would be critical to maintaining political stability and advancing inclusive governance.