Somalia’s Election Crisis: No Deal, No Credible Vote

Mogadishu, Somalia (WDN) — Somalia’s already fragile electoral process is facing another serious obstacle after the presidents of Jubaland and Puntland reportedly rejected efforts to bring them to Mogadishu for the final stage of negotiations between the Federal Government and the opposition-led Future Council.

The proposed meeting, facilitated by international partners, was intended to bridge the widening political divide and produce an agreement on the country’s electoral roadmap. But the refusal by Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) and Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni underscores a deeper problem: there is still no political settlement broad enough to command national confidence.

Jubaland and Puntland have questioned the reliability of proposed guarantees and are reluctant to participate in an electoral process they believe could ultimately be shaped unilaterally by Villa Somalia.

Their position reflects a growing concern that promises made during political negotiations may not provide sufficient protection once an electoral timetable is formally adopted.