The President of the Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has spoken openly about the political situation in the country, focusing on his views on the opposition and the democratic process in the country.
The President, who is in the city of Dhusamareb, pointed out the need for the country to have a transparent political system, and to build political parties with a clear vision.
President Hassan Sheikh said that the current opposition is not a unified group with a vision for national development. Citing the example of the time when he was a member of the opposition in 2022, he said that there is a big difference between the opposition then and the current one.
“The opposition I was a member of in 2022 and the one that exists today are two different things. There is no unifying vision. Everyone is going in a different direction, and that does not lead to progress,” the President said.
This statement comes at a time when five meetings between the government and the opposition alliance known as the “Somali Salvation Forum” have failed, which shows the distance between the parties.
The President particularly stressed the importance of finalizing the country’s constitution, a commitment he made during the election campaign. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing one-person, one-vote elections:
“We must overcome the current challenges, such as finalizing the constitution and returning power to the people.”
The statement appears to be the President’s response to concerns expressed by the opposition over the way things are going, especially in terms of preparations for the one-person, one-vote election.
President Hassan Sheikh said the country needs to move away from politics based solely on individuals, and away from a system based on vested interests.
“We must move away from politics based solely on individuals, and build political parties based on clear principles and visions,” said Hassan Sheikh.
He added that a genuine party system can lead to lasting political and social change.
The President’s statement comes at a time of significant differences in opinion about the direction the country is heading, especially in terms of politics and the electoral process, although the opposition remains concerned about issues including transparency and the government’s implementation of its promises.
