Somalia’s Ministry of Interior on Monday issued an official press statement outlining the current status of national consultations and addressing challenges that have affected the latest round of political talks held at Villa Somalia.

The Federal Government stated that since March 2025 it has undertaken extensive consultations with former leaders, civil society actors, and political stakeholders in an effort to build consensus on modern state-building and the advancement of democratic governance in Somalia.

In response to a call issued by the Council for Somalia’s Future during its December 2025 conference in Kismayo, the government said it formally convened dialogue with the group on 18 February 2026. According to the statement, the parties initially agreed on three key issues, including the formation of an electoral commission and the conduct of elections at both the federal member state and federal levels.

However, the government stated that the talks encountered difficulties after what it described as the introduction of a non-constitutional provision related to the selection of regional administrations.

The Federal Government reiterated that the doors to dialogue remain open to any party willing to engage in genuine discussions grounded in the country’s constitution and legal framework. It further reaffirmed its commitment to holding elections that reflect the will of the Somali people while preserving national unity and advancing a peaceful and democratic future.

Separately, the Minister of Defence of the Federal Government of Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, commented on the recent collapse of talks between federal leaders and opposition figures.

In a statement shared on social media, Fiqi said the government had responsibly accepted the opposition’s demands raised during the Kismayo meeting. He accused opposition figures of working to undermine the talks, despite what he described as government concessions aimed at ensuring their participation at Villa Somalia.

He stated that the opposition had proposed meeting in hotels in Halane, which the government accepted, and that after initial hesitation to attend discussions at Villa Somalia, they were persuaded following extended efforts. According to the minister, after two lengthy rounds of dialogue, the opposition was the first to declare the talks had failed.

Fiqi further described the opposition as fragmented and driven by differing agendas, alleging that some were influenced by external actors. He emphasized that the Federal Government carries the constitutional mandate to lead the country and vowed to prevent what he termed attempts to hold Somalia’s political process and elections hostage.

The minister’s remarks come a day after opposition leaders accused the Federal Government of derailing the talks and reaffirmed their objections to the contested provisions.