Türkiye facilitates Somalia government-opposition dialogue in Mogadishu

Türkiye has played an active role in launching and sustaining dialogue between Somalia’s government and the opposition during a period of debate about the Constitution and electoral system, security sources said Wednesday. Talks began Tuesday in Mogadishu following initiatives by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), after disagreements about proposed changes to the Constitution and election system. MİT’s long‑running efforts with the parties, carried out under the instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have produced positive results, according to the sources.

Inclusive political process

Representatives of the Somali Federal Government and the opposition agreed to continue talks, while the process is being conducted in close coordination with the Turkish Foreign Ministry. MİT has long been engaged in efforts to build trust between Somalia’s political actors and help address disputes through dialogue on a constructive basis. Throughout the process, Türkiye conveyed to the parties that lasting peace and stability in Somalia can only be achieved through dialogue, compromise, and an inclusive political process, while emphasising that the future can only be shaped by the will of Somalis.

Somalia’s gratitude

The Somali government thanked Türkiye for its mediation role, saying government and opposition representatives met in Mogadishu in a friendly atmosphere. “The meeting enabled the parties to exchange their views openly, sincerely and constructively,” it said, adding that the sides expressed gratitude to Türkiye for its “dedicated facilitation role” throughout the dialogue process. Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who attended the talks on behalf of part of the opposition, said the parties agreed during the Mogadishu meeting to continue an inclusive dialogue process for Somalia’s political stability, security, and prosperity.