Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed held a press conference in Mogadishu today to address the country’s political landscape and upcoming elections. Sheikh Sharif expressed his firm opposition to the recent approval by the Somali Parliament of an independent electoral commission.

Sheikh Sharif raised doubts about the practicality of holding one-person, one-vote elections in the capital, Mogadishu, under the current circumstances. “How can we conduct such an election in a city where the government is actively operating? Can people genuinely and freely cast their votes without restriction? That is the crucial question,” he said.

He further criticized Villa Somalia’s plan to conduct one-person, one-vote elections, noting that it has fueled significant political tension. “It’s not just about the election itself; there are concerns about whether those seeking to control the process will be met with resistance,” Sheikh Sharif added.

Somalia is currently embroiled in disputes over the election framework, with opposition coming from Jubbaland, Puntland, and key political opponents who challenge the government’s approach.