Five opposition parties in Somalia have cautiously welcomed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent proposal for a national dialogue, but say they will only participate if key conditions are met to ensure the process is inclusive, credible and constitutionally grounded.

Muqdisho – In a joint statement released Friday, the Xaqsoor, Samadoon, DPC, Ramaas and Dhulka Hooyo parties said the initiative could offer a path forward from the country’s prolonged political deadlock—but warned that any talks must be framed as a formal negotiation between the federal government and opposition, not a unilateral undertaking.They called for the formation of a joint technical committee comprising government and opposition members to oversee the structure, agenda and timeline of the summit. The parties also emphasized that the discussions must remain focused on constitutional and electoral matters, and avoid blending in issues like counterterrorism or regional security, which they said could derail the intended goals.

“The president’s call for dialogue must not become another symbolic gesture,” the statement read. “Without a clear framework and mutual consent, it risks deepening the very crisis it seeks to resolve.”

The opposition bloc urged the president to formally recognize the consultations as a political negotiation, emphasizing that legitimacy and public confidence depend on transparency, power-sharing and adherence to constitutional principles.

To this end, they proposed three key measures:

1. That the president publicly affirm the dialogue as a structured negotiation between the government and opposition;
2. That a joint technical committee be tasked with setting the agenda and process;
3. That the talks avoid conflating constitutional matters with unrelated issues such as national security.

The parties warned that without these assurances, they will not take part.

The five parties, all recently registered with Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission, reiterated their commitment to participating in future elections—if the process follows basic constitutional standards.

Their seven conditions for any electoral process include:

1. Alignment with Somalia’s constitution and legal frameworks;
2. Free and fair participation without coercion;
3. Conduct of elections within the legally mandated timeframe;
4. Oversight by an independent and credible electoral body;
5. Equal access for all political parties;
6. Results that reflect the will of the people;
7. Procedures and timelines agreed upon in advance.

They said they are open to working with the federal government on a process that reflects these standards but will oppose any initiative that falls short.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced the planned dialogue earlier this month following Eid al-Adha, presenting it as a step toward resolving Somalia’s stalled constitutional review and paving the way for national elections.

The proposal follows rising political tensions, delays in electoral reforms, and growing concerns over exclusionary governance. Critics have pointed to past government-led summits that sidelined opposition voices and failed to deliver meaningful progress.

The five opposition parties said their goal is not obstruction but engagement rooted in legality and consensus.

“Somalia is facing a critical moment,” the statement concluded. “We need a political environment based on trust, transparency and shared responsibility to overcome this crisis.”