Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Future Council, has told President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud it will only begin direct talks if the government immediately releases all civilians detained for their political opinions and grievances, a condition the president has accepted.
The prisoner demand, presented today at US-mediated talks inside Mogadishu’s heavily fortified Halane compound, is the first major test of whether the two sides can negotiate a way out of the deepening political crisis over delayed elections and disputed constitutional changes. The high-stakes dialogue comes just days before President Mohamud’s term is due to expire on May 15, 2026, with the opposition arguing his mandate will lapse.
Opposition leaders are framing the release of political detainees as a necessary confidence-building measure before engaging on substantive issues.
“Does making this the first condition of the dialogue not show that the opposition are men who can be trusted, people with both a cause and a duty?” asked former Banadir security and politics deputy chair Ali Yare Ali, responding to the opposition demand.
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Former security officials have voiced concern that the condition could set a precedent, arguing that freeing individuals accused of anti-state activities might undermine government authority and embolden street protests, which have recently turned deadly.
President Mohamud is being represented by Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama at the Halane talks, while the opposition delegation includes former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni.
The United States is playing a direct facilitating role in the negotiations, with international partners stressing the urgency of a political solution to avoid a complete breakdown of order.
