Dubai,UAE-In a series of quiet, high-stakes meetings far from the public eye, some of Somalia’s most influential political figures have been re-drawing their battle plans against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, according to multiple sources familiar with the closed-door negotiations.
What began as a bold, externally funded bid to elevate former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has now fractured into internal disagreement, strategic distrust, and warnings of foreign interference—exposing deep rifts within the opposition alliance.
The Original Master Plan — and Its Collapse
Sources say the early strategy was straightforward: Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe and Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni would seek significant financial backing from the United Arab Emirates, rallying behind Sheikh Sharif to challenge Hassan Sheikh in a region both politicians consider their core political turf.
But this plan reportedly faltered after President Hassan Sheikh outmaneuvered both the Jubbaland and Puntland administrations on key federal political fronts—an outcome insiders describe as a “strategic blow” that forced the opposition to reconsider its next moves.
A New Strategy Emerges — Then Meets Resistance
In the aftermath, discussions shifted to a new idea: uniting around a single presidential candidate to avoid dividing the opposition vote. Yet this proposal quickly ran into resistance.
According to sources with direct knowledge of the talks, Said Deni flatly refused to back Sheikh Sharif—either as a unified candidate or as a potential Prime Minister in a power-sharing arrangement.
Deni reportedly argued that stepping aside would push a portion of his supporters toward Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and former Prime minister Sa’id Shire-don, whom he accuses of operating under Qatari influence. These claims remain unverified but highlight the growing mistrust within the opposition camp.
Unanswered Questions as Leaders Return Home
The political figures involved are expected to return to Somalia in the coming days, but their next steps remain shrouded in uncertainty. It is still unclear where they intend to launch their campaign operations—or whether they will even emerge as a unified front against President Hassan Sheikh.
Telegaraf News
