MOGADISHU, Somalia – Former Somali Prime Ministers Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and Hassan Ali Khaire arrived in Mogadishu on Thursday, signaling the mounting strength of the opposition ahead of a key conference expected to take place in the capital.
The two former leaders were warmly welcomed by opposition lawmakers, highlighting the growing challenge to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.
The upcoming conference, described as an “anti-federal government” gathering, will bring together key opposition figures to discuss pressing political and security issues, with a particular focus on the anticipated one-person, one-vote elections.
Their arrival comes amid rising political tensions in the country. Earlier this week, 103 members of Somalia’s bicameral parliament issued a joint statement calling for the resignation of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of failing in his constitutional duties.
The lawmakers accused the president of dismantling the National Consultative Council (NCC), interfering in federal member states such as Puntland and Jubbaland, and misusing state resources to advance his political agenda.
They also condemned his failure to uphold a pledge made on March 29 to initiate a national dialogue, alleging that his administration has fostered division and undermined national unity.
The formation of the Justice and Stability Party (JSP), launched this week with President Mohamud as chairman, has fueled further accusations of partisanship. Critics claim that the president is blurring the lines between state functions and party politics, with top government officials being appointed to key positions within the new party.
The opposition meeting in Mogadishu is expected to intensify the political standoff, with significant implications for Somalia’s electoral process, federal-state relations, and national unity.
