Mogadishu-based opposition leaders and the Somali President are currently holding a sit-down in a bid to reach an agreement on contentious issues as the country prepares to head into elections in 10 months in what Villa Somalia describe as a national consultation forum. 

The meeting is happening at the request of Villa Somalia, and it is largely an attempt to revive a stalled dialogue process that had previously collapsed after disagreements on key issues that President Hassan is pushing to implement.

The President hopes to use the talks to soften opposition resistance to a range of contentious reforms, including an elections model widely seen as crafted to secure his political advantage.

The talks are happening at a critical time when the country’s political environment is increasingly fractured. In the last few months, opposition leaders have accused the President of pressing forward with a unilateral electoral agenda that they say lacks credibility and risks further destabilizing the nation.

President Hassan last year formed a new electoral commission, filled with loyalists, without broad political consensus. The President is also adamant about holding a “one person, one vote” system. Many argue the model is unworkable in the current Somali context, where insecurity, administrative fragmentation, and political mistrust remain widespread.

Another critical aspect that is further fueling discontent in the talks is the exclusion of representatives from the key Puntland and Jubaland federal member states. Their leaders have long been sidelined from national forums by President Hassan.

In contrast, the federal government maintains a firm grip over Galmudug, South West, and Hirshabelle, where Villa Somalia is accused of exerting near-total control and endorsing actions seen by critics as unconstitutional.

The opposition group is  made up of former presidents, prime ministers, and senior officials, has repeatedly called for a more inclusive and negotiated process to determine Somalia’s political future.

While Sunday’s meeting may hint at a willingness to talk, many political observers caution that a breakthrough remains unlikely. The divisions are deep, and the road to consensus appears steep.