MOGADISHU: Abdirahman Odowa, the former secretary general of Somalia’s ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) and a longtime ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, attended an opposition meeting in Mogadishu on Monday, weeks after resigning from his position. His presence at the gathering signals a significant political realignment as the country approaches a critical deadline for the president’s term.
Attendees discussed two key issues: a presidential invitation for national consultative talks on elections scheduled for May 10 and the type of electoral system the opposition wants to be implemented in the country. Odowa resigned from his party post in late March, accusing the president of deviating from good governance into what he described as “armed subjugation” of regional states, dismantling the country’s federal system, and widespread corruption. In his strongly worded resignation statement, Odowa explicitly criticized President Mohamud for “obduracy and intransigence,” highlighting a fundamental and irreconcilable disagreement with the federal administration’s current political and legislative path.
Odowa’s move to join the opposition follows similar defections by other former senior government officials. Former intelligence chief Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbalolshe, who was removed from his position last year, has regularly attended opposition meetings in Mogadishu, including Monday’s gathering. Abdullahi Mohamed Nur, another key figure within the president’s inner circle, has also recently announced his resignation. These developments come as the president remains stationed in Baidoa to oversee the South West State political transition, while political tensions escalate in the capital.
Many political analysts believe these high-profile departures could lead to further defections from the ruling party as a deadlock over elections continues, complicating matters as the president’s mandate is set to expire on May 15. Opposition leaders have declared that President Mohamud will lose his legal authority after May 15 unless national elections are conducted or a constitutional alternative is agreed upon.
The Monday meeting also addressed the president’s invitation to a national consultative forum scheduled for May 10, just five days before the opposition’s claimed deadline. Opposition figures, including former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and multiple former prime ministers, have been skeptical about the government’s proposals, particularly regarding the feasibility of a “one person, one vote” electoral system without a prior political settlement. The growing alignment of former ruling party insiders with the opposition suggests that the political landscape is shifting rapidly, potentially weakening the president’s coalition at a critical juncture.
Odowa’s resignation and subsequent opposition participation are seen by observers as a significant blow to the president’s inner circle. As the May 15 deadline approaches, both sides appear to be consolidating their positions, with the opposition gaining experienced political figures who bring institutional knowledge and regional influence. Whether the May 10 consultative meeting can bridge the widening gap remains uncertain, but Odowa’s defection underscores the depth of the political rift.
