NAIROBI, Kenya – A new political front, the Somali Future Council, has been launched in Nairobi by regional leaders and opposition figures, aiming to provide a unified voice during Somalia’s complex political transition.
Formation and Key Players
The Somali Future Council brings together:
Presidents of the federal member states of Jubaland (Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madobe”) and Puntland (Said Abdullahi Deni).
Prominent opposition leaders including former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khaire and Abdi Farah Shirdon, and MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame from the Somali Salvation Forum.
The Council was announced following meetings held on October 2, 2025, in Nairobi.
Purpose, Goals and Agenda
The main declared aims of the Somali Future Council are to:
Coordinate positions on Somalia’s political transition, especially as the mandate of the current leadership winds down.
Finalize its structure and operational framework through a follow-up national conference to be held inside Somalia.
Emphasize national unity and stability, and challenge any processes or decisions deemed threatening to Somalia’s cohesion.
Political Context and Implications
The formation of this bloc takes place amid increasing friction between the federal government in Mogadishu and regional authorities, with Jubaland and Puntland historically pushing for greater autonomy.
Opposition figures have repeatedly expressed concerns about the direction of constitutional amendments, the electoral roadmap, and what they see as centralized decision-making without sufficient consultation.
The federal government’s reaction has been cautious. Some officials have questioned the legitimacy of agreements made outside Somalia’s borders.
The Somali Defence Minister, for example, criticized the Nairobi meeting, warning that political decisions regarding the national transition should be made within the country to preserve sovereignty.
Challenges Facing the Somali Future Council
The Somali Future Council will face several hurdles, including:
Legitimacy and recognition: To be effective, it must earn credibility among clans, regional leaders, and the wider public. That includes whether its resolutions will be accepted by the federal government.
Structure and decision-making power: While the Nairobi meeting set the intention, there is ambiguity over how much actual authority the Council will hold, its legal or constitutional status, and how binding its decisions may be.
Security environment: With Al-Shabab still active and many areas unstable, the political transition is inseparable from the security situation. Any platform attempting to shape governance must address these realities.
Timing: Somalia is on a tight timeline as it nears another election cycle. Delays or perceived stalling could heighten tensions. How the Council structures itself and moves forward will be crucial.
What to Watch Next
National Conference: When and where the promised national conference will be held inside Somalia — a key event expected to formalize the Council’s structure and define its agenda.
Federal Government Response: Whether Mogadishu will engage with the Council, ignore it, or oppose it outright.
Regional and Opposition Reactions: How other federal member states and non-aligned opposition actors will position themselves.
International Involvement: Whether Kenya, IGAD, the African Union, or donor nations will support or mediate between the sides. Given Nairobi’s role in hosting the initial meeting, international influence could be significant.
Conclusion
The Somali Future Council represents a fresh attempt by regional leaders and opposition figures to shape Somalia’s next political chapter.
Its emergence reflects growing dissatisfaction with existing power structures and a push for a more inclusive, negotiated political transition.
Whether it can translate its declarations into effective political leverage remains to be seen — but its formation undeniably adds a new dimension to Somalia’s evolving political landscape.
