President Hassan Sheikh: Somalia Is Not Heading Towards Political Conflict

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has stated that the federal government is not leading the country into political conflict, and that it does not plan to attack opposition leaders and those with differing views from the government.

The President made these remarks during a meeting he held with members of both Houses of the Federal Parliament of Somalia who are part of the Justice and Reconciliation Party (JSP). The meeting discussed strengthening cooperation, the role of parliamentarians, and preparations for the planned federal elections in 2027.

“We are not waging war against anyone, nor are we preparing for war,” said President Hassan Sheikh, dismissing concerns that the political disputes in the country could turn into armed confrontations.

This statement comes at a time when there is a political dispute related to constitutional amendments, the electoral process, and the halt in negotiations between the federal government and the opposition. Opposition politicians and former leaders have warned the government against using security forces in political disputes.

President Hassan Sheikh also stated that the government is not detaining anyone for their political views, noting that there are no detained politicians whom he referred to as political prisoners.

“As of today, we do not have a single politician in prison; we do not have political prisoners,” the president said.

He added that intimidation and fear-mongering are not among the principles of his government, urging the opposition to present their views in political dialogue and to avoid rhetoric that could create fear and confusion in society.

On the other hand, the president discussed with the JSP members the preparations for the one-person, one-vote elections, encouraging them to take a visible role in raising public awareness and implementing the process through which the government intends for the people to directly elect their leaders.

Although the president ruled out the possibility of political conflict, the dispute between the government and the opposition still persists. The main points of contention include constitutional amendments, the electoral process, and the approach to political negotiations.