Somalia is facing a dangerous political impasse after years of electoral manipulation, bribery, and coercion by Villa Somalia. The current process, widely seen as fraudulent and lacking legitimacy, risks collapsing entirely, with the opposition threatening to boycott and possibly launch a parallel election. Tensions in Mogadishu are rising as the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) explores forming a caretaker Sovereign or Salvation Council in January 2022, potentially including federal state presidents and parliamentary speakers to oversee credible elections. Advocates argue that such a council could end years of paralysis, improve decision-making, and deliver a fairer process. However, challenges include limited international appetite for a new arrangement and the risk of drawn-out negotiations. Many Somalis remain disillusioned after past caretaker experiments, particularly with Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble’s perceived failure.