Tuesday 1,April ,2025 {HMC} The Maanshiil Forum, an opposition group in Somalia’s Southwest regional state, has welcomed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent call for national peace talks to unite efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab and address the country’s political and security challenges.
In a Monday statement, the group described the President’s initiative as a “commendable and welcome step” toward resolving the nation’s ongoing instability.
“The Maanshiil Forum welcomes the call by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to provide a platform for national consultations to discuss the fate of the Somali nation,” the statement read.
The Forum added that the President’s appeal has sparked hope among the Somali people and urged the federal government to translate the initiative into action by creating an inclusive political dialogue to unite the nation and confront terrorism.
The statement comes amid growing momentum behind the President’s appeal, with former Somali leaders and major political figures publicly supporting the effort. However, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni—whose administration remains at odds with the federal government—has yet to respond.
President Mohamud invited during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, calling for broad political consensus to confront Somalia’s two most pressing issues: the enduring threat of Al-Shabaab and the need to strengthen the country’s fragile federal structure. The President invited all political stakeholders, including his rivals, to take part in shaping a national path forward.
