Written by: Qusay Ahmed

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has officially invited opposition forces to sit down at the table for comprehensive national dialogue, with the aim of discussing the critical issues facing the country, foremost among them the elections and determining the political path for the next stage.

This call comes at a highly sensitive time, as the Somali political scene is witnessing escalating tensions between the government and the opposition. Opposition forces have recently intensified their rhetoric, warning of the repercussions of what they describe as government overreach and its rejection of their demands for electoral reforms.

The Somali president opens the door to dialogue with the opposition.

The opposition also issued strong statements through the media, threatening to take escalatory measures after the current constitutional term of the government ends at the end of this year.

In his speech, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stressed the importance of national unity at this critical stage, noting that dialogue with the opposition is a key step to ensure the country’s stability and the continuation of the political reform process.

He expressed the government’s readiness to work constructively with all political parties to ensure transparent and fair elections, which will contribute to progress and development in Somalia.

The President called for this dialogue to be characterized by cooperation and understanding between all parties, stressing that the government will remain open to all constructive proposals aimed at strengthening democracy and the stability of the country.

Earlier, the opposition had called for amendments to the current electoral system, pointing to the need to take steps to ensure the integrity of the upcoming elections.

This call is seen as an attempt to ease tensions and avoid further political escalation, which could threaten the country's stability.

Attention now remains focused on the potential responses from the opposition, and whether the national dialogue will lead to a peaceful settlement of political disputes or further complicate the political situation in Somalia.