(04-07-23) MOGADISHU – Somali President Hassan Sheikh is set to convene meetings with representatives from various political parties, notably members of the Presidential Candidates Coalition, of which the President was a part while opposing the previous administration.
Prominent figures slated to attend the gathering include former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre, alongside other high-profile politicians, all personally invited by President Hassan Sheikh.
The upcoming negotiations follow a recent discussion between President Hassan Sheikh and former President Sharif Sheikh, in which the latter was requested to arrange a rendezvous with party members to dissect and exchange opinions on the Political Agreement of 27th May this year, a directive issued by the National Consultative Council.
The agreement, which proposed the transition of Somalia towards a presidential system and the establishment of a future dual-party state, was met with opposition by the political coalition. They issued a joint statement, voicing their objections to some of the directive’s provisions.
Former President Mohamed Farmajo was the only notable figure who openly embraced the agreement. His support for the transformation to a presidential system and the implementation of a “one person, one vote” approach in the party system seemed at odds with some provisions of the accord, which were expected to be enacted only through consensus.
Observers are keenly watching these developments, given their potential to shape Somalia’s political landscape in a significant way. The outcomes of these discussions are poised to either fortify or challenge the stipulations of the Political Agreement and, thus, chart the course of Somalia’s governance structure and democratic processes in the years to come.
