MOGADISHU — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Sunday sharply criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to sign a revised constitution into law, warning the move could endanger national unity and deepen political divisions in the fragile Horn of Africa nation.
Farmaajo said the amendments threaten Somalia’s system of governance and risk undermining social cohesion at a sensitive political moment. “The constitution is a national agreement,” he said, arguing that any revision requires broad consultation and political consensus rather than what he described as a unilateral process.
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His remarks came hours after Mohamud formally signed the revised Federal Constitution at a ceremony in Mogadishu, completing a review process that replaces the 2012 provisional charter. The overhaul, which the government has cast as a long-delayed step to clarify the federal system and strengthen national institutions, sets five-year mandates for federal institutions, including parliament and the presidency. The previous constitution limited terms to four years.
Farmaajo said several federal member states, lawmakers from both houses of parliament and other segments of society have voiced serious concerns about how the amendments were advanced. He added that numerous former officials and political figures have warned the changes could trigger legal disputes and intensify political tensions.
“The review process has deviated from the agreed path,” Farmaajo said, urging leaders to return to dialogue and broad national consultation to avoid further instability.
The constitutional review has become one of Somalia’s most divisive political fights in recent weeks. Supporters inside the administration say locking in longer, clearly defined terms could reduce recurring election stand-offs and give institutions predictable time to govern. Critics contend the process lacked sufficient consensus from the country’s complex array of federal states, clans, lawmakers and civil society organizations, risking a legitimacy gap that could complicate implementation.
Somalia adopted its provisional constitution in 2012 at the end of its transitional period, with the understanding that a comprehensive review would follow. That effort has repeatedly stalled amid political disagreements, shifting alliances and security priorities, leaving key questions about the balance of power between federal and state authorities unresolved.
The new law’s five-year terms, alongside other clarifications to the federal framework, are intended to bring stability to the political calendar. But opposition figures argue that extending mandates without broad buy-in could invite court challenges and worsen rifts among stakeholders, including federal member states that often contest Mogadishu’s reach over revenue, security and political appointments.
Farmaajo called on the current leadership to prioritize unity and political agreement, particularly as Somalia confronts persistent security threats, economic strain and humanitarian pressures. He said restoring a consensual path to constitutional revision would help prevent institutional paralysis and reduce the risk of renewed political crises.
The presidency did not immediately respond Sunday to Farmaajo’s remarks. Officials allied with Mohamud have previously defended the review as a necessary step to consolidate federal governance, arguing that a more coherent constitutional baseline is critical to stabilizing institutions and accelerating state-building.
With the revised constitution now signed, political attention is likely to shift to how — and how quickly — the changes are implemented. Whether federal and state leaders can forge consensus around the next steps may determine if the overhaul brings the promised stability or ushers in a new phase of contention.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
