The European Union has urged Somalia’s opposition coalition to accept the government’s invitation to participate in a national consultation forum, calling for inclusive dialogue to resolve the deepening political impasse over the upcoming elections.
The call comes as the EU welcomed the Federal Government of Somalia’s invitation to the Somali Future Council to participate in the talks.
“The EU welcomes the invitation extended by the FGS to the Somali Future Council for the national consultation forum. An inclusive dialogue to reach a broad consensus on the elections before the end of the mandates is key,” said the EU Ambassador to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, in a statement posted on X’s social media.
Di Mauro added that the EU looks forward to “productive dialogue,” and encouraged the Somali Future Council to respond positively to the government’s invitation.
Earlier this week, the Federal Government of Somalia officially invited the Somali Future Council to participate in the forum scheduled to open in Mogadishu on February 1.
The Somali Future Council, which includes leaders of Puntland and Jubbaland states as well as several former prime ministers, has expressed skepticism about what it calls an electoral system run by the government alone.
Earlier this month, the council issued a warning calling for a broad consultation meeting by January 20 to discuss the electoral map.
The EU’s diplomatic efforts come as leaders of the Somali Future Council are meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss their formal response to the government’s invitation.
