Mogadishu – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has launched Somalia’s most comprehensive national consultation effort since 2022, bringing together federal and regional leaders, intellectuals, and civil society in a two-track dialogue set to begin on May 1st. The initiative follows recent military successes against the al-Shabaab militant group and aims to align political, security, and governance strategies at both the federal and state levels.
At the heart of the National Consultation Council’s agenda is the implementation of the “Final Push” military campaign, focused on clearing remaining al-Shabaab strongholds in the Middle Shabelle and Jubba regions. Alongside these operations, technical committees will be tasked with drafting frameworks for interim local administrations in liberated areas—a long-standing source of tension between Mogadishu and federal member states.
In parallel, President Hassan is convening meetings with scholars, business leaders, and constitutional experts to build consensus on key amendments ahead of Somalia’s planned one-person-one-vote elections. Analysts see this dual-track process as essential to ensuring stability and avoiding governance vacuums that could undermine military achievements.
The return of Puntland to federal institutions after a year-long boycott adds further weight to the dialogue, which is also viewed as a trust-building opportunity among stakeholders. The initiative has been welcomed by the international community, including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), as a critical step forward in Somalia’s political transition.
