Planned direct dialogue between the Somali Federal Government and opposition leaders has hit a major deadlock as unresolved security arrangements derail upcoming talks in Mogadishu.

Regional leaders—most notably Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland and Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) of Jubbaland—have raised serious concerns over the federal government’s ability to independently guarantee safety during the political consultations. Trust has eroded significantly following a recent security incident in Doolow, which regional authorities cite as evidence that federal forces cannot provide neutral security.

Efforts by members of Mogadishu’s Salvation Council to enlist Western diplomats to guarantee leader security have faltered, leaving no agreed-upon safety protocol in place. Simultaneously, several opposition figures remain reluctant to rely on foreign troops, citing fears that external forces have become too entangled in domestic political disputes.

Delegates from the opposition-led Future Council are set to resume efforts today to establish a viable framework for talks. If disagreements over physical meeting venues and security remain unresolved, organizers are weighing telecommunications and virtual channels to keep dialogue open amid high political friction.