6/23/2025
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Federal ministers accuse opposition of boycotting national dialogue
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    Monday June 9, 2025


    Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi (left) and Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur (right). The two ministers publicly criticized opposition leaders on June 9, 2025, accusing them of rejecting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s call for inclusive national dialogue.


    Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government ministers on Monday accused opposition leaders in the Somali Salvation Forum of refusing to join a national political dialogue aimed at resolving the country’s ongoing political tensions.

    The ministers’ comments came hours after the Forum issued a statement accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of maintaining the same approach that triggered the current political crisis. The opposition also said it was still awaiting a credible and inclusive process involving all stakeholders.

    Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi rejected those claims, stating the president had already invited all political actors to the table, but the opposition responded with “blanket rejection.”

    “They say the president has shut the door on dialogue, but when he opens it, they refuse to walk through,” said Fiqi. “They spent Eid abroad and returned only to criticize a process they refuse to join. They crowd into foreign embassies to complain, but resist calls from national leaders. They claim to want to save the country — but in reality, they’re the ones who need saving.”

    Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur echoed that sentiment, arguing that the opposition’s political agenda lacks a Somali-centered vision. “They say, ‘We’re not going forward and we’re not staying here.’ That’s not a plan — it’s obstruction. The president was elected to lead Somalia forward, and that’s what we’re committed to doing,” he said.

    The Somali Salvation Forum, composed of former high-ranking officials and opposition figures, has voiced concerns over the government’s handling of key issues such as electoral reform and power-sharing between federal and state authorities. The current standoff comes as Somalia prepares for key institutional reforms, including a transition from indirect to direct elections and the restructuring of the security sector.

    President Mohamud has urged all political actors to join the proposed dialogue, which aims to chart a unified roadmap for Somalia’s future governance. So far, the opposition has remained skeptical of the initiative’s inclusivity and transparency.

     





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