Turkey has launched mediation between Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders to defuse the political deadlock following the president’s extended term.
This is according to diplomatic sources who claimed that the Turkish delegation has been in the Somali capital for several days.
They are said to have held meetings with opposition leaders and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and it is expected to brief the media on the outcomes of their talks soon.
Somalia entered renewed political uncertainty after Mohamud’s term was reportedly extended by one year following constitutional changes passed in March, a move rejected by opposition leaders who argue his mandate expired on May 15, 2026.
A closed-door meeting is also expected to take place later on Tuesday with a select group of opposition representatives, widely seen as a crucial stepping stone toward engineering direct face-to-face talks between President Mohamud and his political rivals.
The mediation came following recent clashes in Mogadishu that have heightened fears of political instability and drawn concern from international partners.
The international community has expressed alarm over the violence that recently shook the Somali capital, issuing repeated calls for restraint and urging rival political actors to resolve their differences through dialogue and consensus rather than confrontation.
Ankara has long been a key military and economic partner for Somalia, frequently stepping in to mediate internal political crises and regional disputes.
The clashes and military movements in Mogadishu have unsettled residents who are apprehensive that the country’s fragile stability would be shattered.
MG/as/APA