MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The European Union has urged Somalia’s political leaders to urgently resume dialogue aimed at resolving disputes over the country’s electoral process, as political tensions continue between the federal government and opposition groups.
The EU Ambassador to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, said the European Union remains engaged with all political stakeholders and continues to encourage dialogue as the most effective way to resolve Somalia’s political disagreements.
“We do not take sides in support of any particular group. What we encourage is dialogue,” Ambassador Di Mauro said, emphasizing that the EU believes political disputes should be resolved through negotiations and constructive outcomes.
She noted that discussions between the Federal Government of Somalia, opposition leaders, and some federal member states had already been underway before her arrival in Somalia in September last year, adding that the EU’s role has been to maintain continuous engagement with all sides.
According to the ambassador, the European Union hopes all political actors will participate in future talks once they are officially announced and work toward achieving tangible agreements regarding Somalia’s electoral future.
“I want to use this opportunity to once again stress that we hope the talks resume quickly in order to find a way forward on Somalia’s elections,” she told Dawan Media.
Her remarks come at a time when Somalia remains deeply divided over the structure of upcoming elections, constitutional amendments, power-sharing arrangements, and the role of political stakeholders in shaping the country’s future governance system.
The dispute has intensified in recent months following disagreements between the federal government and opposition groups over proposed electoral reforms and changes to Somalia’s political framework under the administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Opposition leaders have accused the government of attempting to centralize power and move forward with political changes without broad national consensus, while the federal government insists that reforms are necessary to transition Somalia toward a more democratic electoral system.
Several federal member states have also expressed differing views on the electoral process, further complicating efforts to reach a nationwide political agreement ahead of future elections.
The European Union has long been one of Somalia’s key international partners, providing support in areas including security, governance, humanitarian assistance, and institution-building. EU officials have repeatedly stressed that political stability and inclusive dialogue are essential for Somalia’s long-term security and democratic development.
Political analysts warn that failure to restart negotiations could deepen divisions and increase instability in Mogadishu and other parts of the country, particularly as tensions between government supporters and opposition groups continue to rise.
International partners, including the EU, the United Nations, and the African Union, have consistently called for inclusive political dialogue to prevent further polarization and preserve Somalia’s fragile state-building progress.