Monday 31,March 2025 {HMC} Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and ex-Prime Ministers Abdi Farah Shirdon and Mohamed Hussein Roble have endorsed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s call for peace talks, describing it as a necessary step toward unified counterterrorism efforts and advancing Somalia’s federal governance system.
In a statement released Sunday, Farmaajo urged President Mohamud to follow through on his call by establishing an inclusive platform that fosters trust, cooperation, and constitutional order.
“As we have consistently emphasized, the critical issues impacting Somalia’s future and its governance system demand collective responsibility, rooted in dialogue and consensus,” Farmaajo stated.
He stressed that the forum must include all relevant actors from the federal and state levels and serve as a space to back the armed forces and evaluate their role in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
Former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble also hoped the forum would yield tangible outcomes.
“I call on government leaders and political stakeholders to embrace this opportunity sincerely, always putting the national interest before personal gain,” he wrote on Facebook.
Abdi Farah Shirdon, who served as prime minister between 2012 and 2013, lauded the President’s invitation as a responsible and unifying gesture.
“I commend President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for taking the initiative to bring together government leaders, politicians, and intellectuals at a critical time,” he stated.
President Mohamud called for dialogue during Saturday night’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations, urging political unity to confront Somalia’s twin challenges—defeating the Al-Shabaab insurgency and solidifying the federal system. He invited all political figures, including opponents, signaling a willingness to bridge divides and form a unified national response.
The call comes as Somalia’s military campaign—backed by local militias and international partners—makes territorial gains in Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and Lower Shabelle. Despite these successes, Al-Shabaab remains entrenched in rural regions and continues to carry out asymmetric attacks across the country.
