Mogadishu Mosque Meeting Signals Fragmented Opposition to President Mohamud

[Deeq A.]

Seated, from left: Ahmed Awad, former Foreign Minister; Hassan Ali Khaire, former Prime Minister; Abdirahman Abdishakur, former Presidential Candidate; Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, former Prime Minister; Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, former Speaker of Parliament; and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — In a small mosque in south Mogadishu, a group of politicians opposing Somalia’s incumbent President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, today convened quietly. Among them are a former President, two former Prime Ministers, a former Speaker of the Federal Parliament and a former Foreign Minister, figures with considerable political experience but currently without significant institutional backing. Puntland State and Jubaland State have not backed this emergent opposition one year ahead of the end of President Mohamud’s term.

The group lacks a strong political base typically associated with leadership of a Federal Member State. Puntland’s President, Said Abdullahi Deni, is observing the movement from a distance, hedging his bets. While he supports efforts to organise political opposition to President Mohamud, he appears reluctant to invest significant political capital or resources into a campaign akin to his active involvement in Mogadishu during the 2022 elections.

Deni had been considered a front-runner in the 2022 presidential race, largely due to his successful push for an electoral model granting Federal Member States considerable authority in selecting members of the bicameral legislature. His prospects collapsed on election day during voting, when Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam made a last-minute deal with Mohamud, who, at the time, ranked low in public opinion polls on the X platform (formerly Twitter).

Puntland’s President, Said Abdullahi Deni, appears hesitant to commit substantial political capital or resources to a campaign similar to his active engagement in Mogadishu during the 2022 elections.

Jubaland had backed Hamza Abdi Barre, a Jubaland Federal MP, who was later appointed Prime Minister by President Mohamud. This unforeseen political twist prompted Puntland to sever ties with the Federal Government of Somalia. Deni’s derogatory comment referring to Hamza as a mere “secretary” further strained relations.

Last week, President Deni announced his intention to host a “conference to save Somalia”, stating that Jubaland would be invited to participate. His proposal underscores a shift in his approach, as he no longer places faith in so-called gentleman’s agreements—informal political understandings that, in his view, have failed to deliver.

While the opposition group is united in its desire to unseat President Mohamud, it lacks a coherent political programme or roadmap for governance. Meanwhile, the Federal Government remains committed to implementing one person, one vote elections in 2026. The upcoming local government elections in Mogadishu will serve as a litmus test for the viability of this proposed universal suffrage model.

© Puntland Post, 2025

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