President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on Tuesday convened his first formal consultative meeting with members of the Forum for Somalia’s Future, marking a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to foster national dialogue and political consensus.

The meeting, held in Mogadishu, brought together Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, senior cabinet ministers, and representatives of the Forum. According to officials, discussions centred on critical national priorities, including the electoral framework, the preservation of national unity and social cohesion, the worsening humanitarian situation caused by recurrent drought, and continued military operations against Al-Shabaab.

As part of broader consensus-building efforts, President Hassan Sheikh also held separate bilateral consultations with the leaders of Puntland and Jubbaland to address outstanding political issues and reinforce intergovernmental cooperation.

In a related development, Villa Somalia announced via its official communication channels that the President hosted a luncheon in honour of members of the Forum for Somalia’s Future who responded to the Federal Government’s invitation issued on 19 January 2026. The luncheon, held on 17 February, was described as a preliminary engagement ahead of the proposed National Consultative Conference.

The government stated that the forthcoming conference aims to facilitate inclusive dialogue on the country’s overall political and security landscape, including elections, national unity, humanitarian challenges, and the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab, referred to by the authorities as “Khawarij.”

Officials confirmed that consultations remain underway between the Federal Government and the Forum regarding the formal venue and arrangements for the anticipated national conference.