Friday June 13, 2025
FILE - Members of the Somali Salvation Forum, a coalition of former presidents, prime ministers, and senior political leaders, meet with international partners during a high-level consultation in Mogadishu, Somalia
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s top opposition leaders have condemned the federal government’s decision to dissolve the C6+ international cooperation framework, calling it a unilateral and politically motivated move that threatens to isolate the country and undermine years of diplomatic and governance progress.
In a joint statement following a five-day summit in Mogadishu, the Somali Salvation Forum—a coalition of 13 former national leaders including ex-presidents, prime ministers, and parliamentary speakers— once again accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of dismantling inclusive mechanisms and centralizing power. The Forum warned the move would erode international trust and weaken Somalia’s ability to coordinate on national security, democratic reform, and humanitarian response.
“The federal government’s abrupt suspension of these partnerships threatens Somalia’s credibility and weakens the foundations of cooperation with international allies,” the Forum said.
The C6+ framework—comprising the United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)—was established during Somalia’s post-conflict transitional period to coordinate international political engagement. It played a central role in supporting state-building, peacekeeping, and democratic development over the past decade.
On June 12, the government formally called for its dissolution in a letter from the Office of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs to UN Special Representative James Swan. The letter argued that Somalia is no longer a transitional state, but a sovereign nation with functioning institutions and a clear national development agenda.
The government urged international partners to engage through bilateral cooperation or existing national structures, rather than through these channels. While it expressed gratitude for C6+ support over the past decade, no official response has yet been issued by the group’s member states or the UN.
Opposition leaders argue that the timing of the suspension is politically suspect, coinciding with rising tensions over electoral reform, federal-state relations, and national security coordination. The Forum accused the federal government of sidelining regional leaders and opposition voices while consolidating influence through alliances with federal member states whose mandates have expired—namely Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and Southwest.
The Forum condemned the government’s interference in the selection of members for Somalia’s National Independent Human Rights Commission, calling it unlawful and in violation of Law No. 16. The group urged the government to immediately halt the selection process and ensure that independent oversight mechanisms remain apolitical and transparent.
The group also denounced the "effective collapse" of the National Consultative Council, once seen as a vital platform for dialogue between federal and regional leaders. It said the body has lost legitimacy as a forum for consensus amid growing political exclusion and centralization.
Security was another focal point. The Forum criticized the government’s handling of counterterrorism efforts, accusing it of neglecting the Somali National Army and community-based Ma’awisley forces who continue to fight Al-Shabaab. It urged a unified national strategy that directly supports frontline personnel.
The opposition also condemned secretive deals involving Somalia’s public land and natural resources, which they say were concluded without parliamentary approval or public disclosure. They called for a full audit of recent agreements to restore public confidence.
On electoral reform, the Forum rejected any return to the 2022 indirect voting model. It demanded the implementation of one-person, one-vote elections based on the 2012 provisional constitution and the direct election law passed by the 10th Parliament.
While President Hassan Sheikh has invited stakeholders to a National Consultation Forum set to begin June 15 in Mogadishu, the opposition said it will not attend unless three conditions are met: full inclusion of all federal member states and political factions, a clear and public agenda, and a commitment to resolving constitutional and electoral disputes transparently.
Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has endorsed the forum’s timeline but echoed opposition concerns, warning that excluding Puntland and Jubbaland undermines the legitimacy of the process. Farmaajo also criticized the government’s abandonment of consensus-based frameworks.
Government officials have pushed back. Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur accused the opposition of refusing to engage in national dialogue despite open invitations from the presidency. However, the Forum maintains its willingness to participate in any inclusive and lawful process that restores checks and balances.
The Forum concluded its statement by mourning the deaths of Somali youth who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to migrate to Europe, describing their deaths as the result of “hopelessness, political exclusion, and deteriorating economic prospects” at home.