Somalia’s opposition coalition, the Somali Future Council, has formally called on African Union troop-contributing countries and key international partners to ensure that Somalia’s political crisis is placed at the center of discussions during the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) summit scheduled for July 31 in Kampala, Uganda.

In an open letter dated July 27, 2026, the Council addressed the Heads of State, Ministers of Defence, and Chiefs of Defence Forces of the countries contributing troops and police to AUSSOM—including Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Burundi, and Egypt.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the African Union Peace and Security Council, IGAD, the United Nations, the United States Mission to Somalia, the United Kingdom Mission, the European Union Delegation, Türkiye’s Mission to Somalia, and the UN Transition Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).

The opposition argued that Somalia’s worsening security situation and the financial uncertainty surrounding AUSSOM cannot be separated from what it described as the country’s unresolved political crisis.

According to the Council, the absence of an agreed electoral framework and the lack of a broad political consensus have undermined national institutions, weakened cooperation among security actors, and complicated efforts to combat al-Shabaab and ISIS.

The letter states that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s constitutional term expired on May 15, 2026, arguing that Somalia currently lacks an agreed constitutional framework governing who should lead the country and how a political transition should be managed.

The Council warned that the resulting political fragmentation has weakened the legitimacy of state institutions, reduced public confidence, and disrupted the unified national front required to confront extremist groups.

According to the Somali Future Council, the political divisions have also strained relations between the Federal Government and several Federal Member States, particularly Puntland and Jubaland, whose security forces continue to fight al-Shabaab while, according to the opposition, facing political marginalization from Mogadishu.

The letter argues that Somalia cannot effectively fight multiple internal political disputes while simultaneously confronting terrorist organizations.

The opposition further linked Somalia’s political instability to the growing funding crisis facing AUSSOM. It warned that uncertainty surrounding donor financing reflects broader concerns among international partners about the country’s political direction.

The Council argued that no international peace support mission can substitute for a legitimate political settlement, stressing that foreign military assistance alone cannot secure a country whose political institutions remain deeply contested.

The funding crisis has become one of the most pressing challenges facing AUSSOM since the mission replaced ATMIS.

International partners have struggled to secure sustainable financing for troop allowances, logistics, and operational costs, raising concerns that the mission’s effectiveness could decline at a time when al-Shabaab has intensified attacks and regained territory in several regions..

Analysts have repeatedly warned that prolonged funding shortages could affect operational readiness and slow stabilization efforts across Somalia.

In its letter, the Somali Future Council proposed what it described as an immediate political roadmap to restore national legitimacy.

The opposition called for the establishment of an inclusive Transitional National Council that would oversee the creation of legitimate national institutions through dialogue and consensus.

It said such a mechanism should rebuild public confidence, safeguard the neutrality of the Somali National Army and other state institutions, and ensure that any political transition is conducted transparently and credibly.

The Council also urged leaders attending the Kampala summit to make continued international engagement conditional upon meaningful political progress.

It argued that support for AUSSOM should be tied to a comprehensive political settlement capable of restoring constitutional legitimacy, rebuilding national consensus, and creating the conditions for a peaceful and inclusive transition.

The appeal comes amid one of Somalia’s deepest political crises in recent years. The Federal Government’s push toward a one-person, one-vote electoral model has been rejected by several opposition groups and some Federal Member States, which argue that the process lacks broad national consensus.

The political dispute has widened divisions between Mogadishu and regional administrations while raising concerns among international partners about the country’s stability.

The Kampala summit is expected to focus primarily on AUSSOM’s future mandate and financing.

However, the Somali Future Council has urged participating governments to treat Somalia’s political deadlock as the root cause of both the country’s security challenges and the mission’s funding difficulties, arguing that lasting stability will only be achieved through an inclusive political agreement supported by all major Somali stakeholders.

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According to a proposal document reviewed by Dawan Africa, the framework would, for the first time in Somalia’s modern electoral history, allow citizens to directly elect members of the Federal Parliament and Federal Member State legislatures while temporarily retaining the 4.5 clan power-sharing formula.

Under the proposal, the transitional elections would be implemented through a negotiated political agreement between the Federal Government and the Somali Future Council under a Transitional Elections Implementation Framework (TEIF).

Political parties would not participate during the transition, with recognized traditional elders continuing to allocate parliamentary seats among eligible sub-clans under the existing 4.5 formula.

The proposal also calls for a Federal Elections Implementation Committee (FEIC), jointly appointed by the government and the Somali Future Council, alongside State Elections Implementation Committees established by each Federal Member State.

A key feature of the proposed system is same-day voter registration and voting, allowing eligible citizens to register at polling stations and immediately cast their ballots without a separate voter registration process.

The Somali Future Council says the model is designed to broaden democratic participation, strengthen the legitimacy of elected institutions, reduce political disputes, and build confidence among stakeholders while creating a gradual transition toward universal suffrage.

According to the proposed timeline, political negotiations between the Federal Government and the Somali Future Council would be completed within two weeks, followed by the adoption of the Transitional Elections Implementation Framework.

Elections for Federal Member States would be concluded within three months, while federal parliamentary elections and the presidential election would be completed within six months if the proposal is adopted.

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The visit comes amid a deepening constitutional and political crisis in Somalia. Former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s mandate expired on May 15, yet he has refused to step down, having failed to organise a presidential election within his constitutional term.

The opposition — united under the Future Council of Somalia — has declared his continued hold on power illegitimate, demanding an immediate transfer of authority and the formation of a transitional government.

The standoff has raised fears of political violence and institutional collapse, drawing urgent concern from regional governments and international partners.

The delegation met with Puntland President Sa’id Abdullahi Deni, discussing counter-terrorism and Somalia’s stability.

Puntland’s State House reported the meeting addressed “the overall security and political situation in Somalia, with a particular focus on cooperation and the achievements Puntland has made in combating the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) terrorist group.”

The meeting also covered strengthening the cooperative relationship between the Puntland Government and the United States, specifically in the areas of security, investment, and the utilisation of Puntland’s natural resources, including mining, fisheries, and oil, according to the Puntland presidency.

Puntland, which broke away from the Federal Government in 2023 over constitutional disputes, has emerged as a key stakeholder in Somalia’s political future.

President Deni has been a vocal critic of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and has aligned himself with the opposition coalition calling for accountability and a return to constitutional order as the term of the Federal Government ended last week.

The Somali electoral crisis has its roots in long-running disagreements over the electoral model, the role of federal member states, and the timeline for a transition to a one-person, one-vote system.

In March 2026, the Somali Future Council, which is the main opposition coalition issued a stark warning, declaring it was “clearly and unequivocally opposed to any attempt to extend the term of office beyond the periods clearly set out in the 2012 Provisional Constitution.”

Successive Somali governments have failed to deliver a direct popular vote, with elections instead conducted through a complex clan-based indirect voting system.

The failure to hold elections before the expiry of Hassan Sheikh’s term has now brought Somalia to one of its most precarious political junctures in years.

Last week, the U.S. Embassy, alongside the United Kingdom, launched an initiative to broker talks between the opposition coalition and former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud following the end of his term on May 15.

The international community has urged all parties to engage in dialogue and avoid any actions that could further destabilise the country.

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In a statement released Tuesday, the Council said it “responsibly welcomes” the President’s invitation to a meeting scheduled for May 10, 2026, aimed at resolving the ongoing electoral impasse.

However, the opposition bloc expressed deep skepticism about the government’s intentions, noting that previous engagements were conducted “in good faith and integrity,” while accusing the President of pursuing unilateral constitutional changes.

The Council also pointed to what it described as contradictory actions by the government, highlighting that the invitation to dialogue was followed a day later by the announcement of an election timetable without broader consensus. It further raised concerns over the continued displacement of vulnerable communities and the arrest of young people, arguing these developments undermine trust in the proposed talks.

“Such actions indicate that the invitation is not part of a genuine effort toward inclusive dialogue,” the statement said.

Earlier this week, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said he was open to engaging opposition groups to break the deadlock over elections, which remain unresolved just days before the constitutional end of his term.

The Somali Future Council reiterated its willingness to participate in meaningful negotiations but stressed that credible dialogue requires an enabling environment. It called on the President to halt unilateral electoral processes and commit to a mutually agreed, independent mediation mechanism.

The opposition alliance also insisted that a political agreement on elections must be reached before May 15. Failing that, it warned it would take what it described as “responsible measures,” in coordination with the Somali public, to safeguard the country’s unity and statehood.

Somalia is currently facing a deepening political crisis. The term of the federal parliament expired on April 14, while no agreement has yet been reached on the electoral model or timeline. Growing tensions have fueled fears of potential violence, with opposition leaders warning against any attempt to impose elections without consensus or extend the President’s mandate.

#BREAKING FULL STATEMENT:
The Somali Future Council cautiously and responsibly welcomes President @HassanSMohamud ‘s invitation to the dialogue scheduled for May 10, 2026.

The Council declares that it has previously participated in negotiations in good faith and with… pic.twitter.com/SFLuIz7em9

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) May 5, 2026

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