Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and four opposition leaders have signed a landmark agreement shaping the country’s next electoral process.
The deal, reached on August 25, 2025, comes after months of negotiations and builds on the electoral law passed by Parliament in October 2024, which introduced universal suffrage for the 2026 elections.
Under the agreement, the president will continue to be elected by Parliament, while lawmakers will be chosen through a universal suffrage system. Political parties that secure at least 10% of parliamentary seats will also receive formal recognition. All signatories pledged to advance Somalia’s transition toward a “one person, one vote” system.
President Mohamoud hailed the development as a turning point, declaring, “The doors to state reconstruction are now open.”
The reforms, however, have exposed rifts within the opposition. While some leaders endorsed the plan, others remain critical. Former President Sherif Sheikh Ahmed warned that the country’s fragile security environment could derail such sweeping electoral changes.
The agreement is widely seen as a major win for Mohamoud, though his ability to unify Somalia’s fractured political class remains uncertain.
