Somali Future Council Threatens Legal and Political Action Against Federal Election Plan

MOGADISHU (SD) – The Somali Future Council (GMS) has announced plans to pursue constitutional and political measures to challenge what it describes as unilateral electoral decisions by Somalia’s Federal Government, warning that the disputed election process could deepen political divisions and trigger further instability.

In a statement, the council said its proposed measures were intended to secure a negotiated electoral framework in which political stakeholders jointly determine the election timetable and procedures. It argued that decisions affecting the country’s political future should be based on an inclusive agreement rather than unilateral action by the federal authorities.

The GMS has opposed the timetable announced for elections to both houses of the Federal Parliament and the presidency, saying the schedule was introduced without a comprehensive political agreement or a process acceptable to all major political stakeholders.

The council also warned that the government’s approach could heighten tensions in Hirshabelle and South West State, potentially contributing to armed confrontations. It cautioned that the dispute could result in competing electoral processes across the country, holding President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and political groups supporting his decisions responsible for any resulting divisions.

The council further noted that Somalia faces multiple security and humanitarian pressures, including attacks by Al-Shabaab and Islamic State (ISIS) militants, drought, El Niño-related weather risks and escalating regional conflicts. It argued that these challenges make political dialogue and agreement on the electoral process particularly important.

The GMS called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene an urgent, inclusive consultation involving relevant political parties and stakeholders to resolve the dispute. It maintained that no individual or political group should determine Somalia’s political future without a broad agreement, describing such consensus as essential to stability and credible elections.

The statement comes amid continuing disagreements between the federal government and the Somali Future Council over the structure and timing of the country’s next elections. The dispute centers on whether the announced timetable can proceed without a wider political settlement among Somalia’s federal leadership and opposition figures.

The dispute highlights the continuing challenge of reaching agreement on Somalia’s electoral arrangements, including the timetable, procedures and participation of competing political stakeholders. The Future Council’s warning about parallel electoral processes reflects a broader concern that disagreements over the rules could develop into competing claims to political legitimacy.

The government’s position and its response to the council’s latest statement will be important in determining whether negotiations can resume. An inclusive agreement could help reduce uncertainty, while a continued impasse risks intensifying tensions between federal authorities and political opponents, particularly in states already affected by political and security disputes.

The council’s allegations about the government’s intentions and the potential for armed conflict remain its stated assessment; the statement alone does not establish that such outcomes are inevitable. The immediate question is whether the parties can agree on a process that commands sufficient political support to avoid further fragmentation.