Early race towards the 2026 polls: New political alliances redraw the scene in Somalia.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea - Follow-ups: The political arena in Somalia is witnessing remarkable activity with the emergence of new alliances between influential figures and parties, in an anticipatory step for the presidential elections scheduled for 2026. This early move comes amid escalating political tensions and divisions within parliament, signaling the beginning of a long race for the presidency. The new alliances, which include former leaders and figures with tribal influence, seek to reposition themselves in the political landscape and find common ground to influence the course of the upcoming elections. Observers believe that this move reflects a growing concern about the possibility of re-electing the current President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and an attempt to build a strong opposition front capable of competing. It is expected that the issues of security, federalism, and combating corruption will play a pivotal role in shaping the features of the alliances and their political discourse, especially with the continued security challenges facing the country due to attacks by the Al-Shabaab movement, in addition to tensions between the federal government and some states. Analysts predict that the pace of understandings and political alignments will accelerate in the coming months, in light of an indirect electoral system that requires broad coordination between political and tribal entities.