Saturday July 4, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Puntland State’s elected members of Somalia’s House of the People and Upper House escalated their confrontation with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday, demanding that he resign and accusing him of breaching the Constitution and weakening the federal system.
In a statement issued Saturday, the lawmakers said the constitutional mandates of the president and other federal institutions had already come to an end, and they urged authorities to follow the legal and constitutional steps required for a political transition.
The lawmakers accused Hassan Sheikh of pursuing policies they said weaken Somalia’s federal system and threaten national unity.
They further claimed the federal government is meddling in Puntland State’s internal affairs and intensifying political and security tensions in the region.
“We condemn the use of clan militias in the Somali National Army, which is damaging the credibility of security institutions,” the lawmakers said.
The MPs appealed to Somali citizens, political leaders and civil society groups to stand behind the Constitution, safeguard peace and protect national unity.
They also warned all parties against moves that could trigger political chaos or deepen instability.
The lawmakers called on the international community to monitor Somalia’s political developments closely, especially what they described as the expiration of the president’s constitutional term.
The statement adds to a growing political standoff between Puntland State and the Federal Government of Somalia, with the two sides continuing to exchange accusations over security, federal authority and the country’s political future.
