Former President Sheikh Sharif Warns Somalia at 'Difficult Stage' Demanding National Unity

Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told a Himilo Qaran party gathering in Mogadishu on September 18, 2026 that Somalia is passing through a severe political, security and economic crisis that requires collective national action. 'This meeting arrives during a heavy political crisis,' he said, adding 'we are at a difficult stage that demands the Somali people come together' and that the moment 'is not just about positions and elections; it touches on the destiny and survival of our nation.' He urged collaboration between Somalis at home and in the diaspora, and said the country cannot ignore regional and global developments that could affect its security, politics and economy.