By Hassan Adan

The United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) on Sunday welcomed an invitation by Somalia’s federal government to the Somali Future Council for talks aimed at resolving key political disputes, as the country faces mounting uncertainty ahead of a constitutional deadline and an increasingly contested electoral process.

In a statement issued in Mogadishu, UNTMIS said it welcomed the invitation extended by the Federal Government of Somalia to the Somali Future Council, with the aim of jointly finding solutions to critical national issues.

The U.N. mission urged all political stakeholders to engage constructively in the process.

“We once again call on all concerned parties to participate in the dialogue transparently and in good faith, while giving the highest priority to the common interest of all Somalis,” the statement said.

.@UNTMIS_ welcomes the Federal Government of Somalia's invitation to the Somali Future Council for a meeting aimed at jointly finding a way forward on critical national priorities.

We renew our call for all parties involved to participate in further dialogue constructively and… pic.twitter.com/jCvsimIwPx

— UNTMIS (@UNTMIS_) May 3, 2026

UNTMIS added that, working alongside international partners, it remains ready “to continue supporting Somalia’s efforts in addressing the challenges ahead.”

The U.N. intervention comes at a politically sensitive moment for Somalia, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud approaching the end of his current constitutional term on May 15, just days away, amid unresolved disputes over the country’s political future, electoral framework and constitutional order.

Political tensions escalated in recent months after Somalia’s federal parliament approved controversial amendments to the provisional constitution, including changes to the electoral system and governance structure that the government says are aimed at paving the way for universal suffrage and a transition from the country’s long-standing indirect clan-based voting model.

The constitutional amendments, however, were strongly rejected by opposition leaders and some federal member states, who accused the government of pushing through far-reaching political changes without national consensus.

Opposition figures argued that the amendments violated the consultative spirit under which Somalia’s provisional constitution was adopted, warning that unilateral changes could undermine fragile state-building gains made over the past decade.

The Somali Future Council, an emerging opposition platform bringing together former national leaders, senior politicians and influential regional figures, has been among the most vocal critics of the constitutional changes.

The group has repeatedly called for an inclusive national dialogue and a return to political agreements reached through consensus rather than parliamentary majority.

The council has also questioned the legitimacy of any electoral process conducted under what it describes as a “disputed constitutional framework.”

The latest invitation from the federal government is being viewed by diplomats and political observers as a possible attempt to ease tensions before the expiry of the president’s term and avert a deeper constitutional crisis.

The political standoff has revived memories of Somalia’s 2021 electoral impasse, when disagreements over election management and term extensions triggered months of confrontation, armed tensions in Mogadishu, and international concern over the country’s stability.

This time, analysts say the stakes may be even higher as Somalia simultaneously battles an insurgency by Al-Shabaab, prepares for the final phases of the African Union security transition, and seeks to maintain support from international donors backing state-building and security reforms.

International partners, including the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and key Western allies, have repeatedly stressed that Somalia’s political disagreements must be resolved through dialogue and broad-based consensus.

Diplomatic sources say the coming days could prove decisive, with intensive behind-the-scenes consultations underway in Mogadishu between government officials, opposition representatives and international partners seeking to prevent a constitutional vacuum.

Whether the latest government outreach can bring Somalia’s deeply divided political actors to the negotiating table may determine not only the country’s immediate political future, but also the credibility of its long-promised democratic transition.