Farmaajo Warns Mohamud Against Unilateral Moves on Somalia’s Constitution
Observers debate how revisions could affect election timing and the balance of power
Farmaajo warns Somalia risks instability over unilateral constitutional changes as term nears end
MOGADISHU — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo warned that unilateral constitutional changes and disputed election plans could push Somalia toward political instability as the current presidential term nears its end, urging President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to pull back from what he called one-sided decisions.
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- Farmaajo says rushing constitutional amendments without consensus could destabilize Somalia
- Parliament approves revised provisions after heated debate; Mohamud welcomes vote
- Opposition Somali Future Council decries process as rushed and imbalanced
- Observers debate how revisions could affect election timing and the balance of power
Speaking Wednesday at an iftar gathering with federal lawmakers elected from Puntland State, Farmaajo framed the stakes in blunt terms tied to Somalia’s political calendar. “When a president’s term ends, his authority ends with it,” he said. “Leadership is temporary. You must face reality.”
He cautioned that advancing controversial amendments and altering the electoral roadmap without broad consensus risked destabilizing the country during a sensitive period. “In leadership, there are times when you feel like a lion because you have power, but that time can pass quickly,” he said. “Do not take a path that will lead to regret. I have seen that path before.”
The warning followed a contentious parliamentary session in which Somalia’s bicameral legislature approved revised constitutional provisions after a heated and divisive debate. Government officials described the vote as a long-overdue step to complete the country’s constitutional framework, first adopted on a provisional basis in 2012 after years of conflict and political transitions.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed the decision at a news conference Wednesday, saying the constitutional review had “dragged on for a long period” and required resolution to move state-building forward. The administration has cast the revisions as a foundation for predictable governance, stronger federal institutions and more credible national elections.
Opposition leaders swiftly challenged the process and its outcome. The Somali Future Council — an opposition coalition that includes leaders from Puntland State and Jubbaland — argued the amendments were pushed through without sufficient national consensus and could reshape the balance of power in Somalia’s federal system. Regional leaders have long contended that meaningful input from federal member states is essential to avoid deepening political fractures.
Some political observers also questioned whether aspects of the revision could affect the timing of planned elections or extend the current administration’s mandate, though interpretations of the legal implications vary and details of implementation remain unclear. Analysts say any perception that timelines are being shifted could inflame tensions at a moment when trust between federal authorities and regional administrations is fragile.
Farmaajo’s comments placed the country’s immediate security and humanitarian needs at the center of the debate. He said mounting security challenges, economic pressures and ongoing humanitarian crises demand political unity rather than widening divisions. His appeal echoed a broader concern among civil society groups and international partners that protracted disputes over rules of the game can distract from urgent state and security priorities.
The coming weeks will test whether the government can translate the parliamentary vote into an inclusive process that reassures skeptical stakeholders. Implementation details — including how any constitutional changes interface with the electoral calendar and federal-state power-sharing — are likely to determine whether the reforms consolidate Somalia’s institutions or rekindle a cycle of brinkmanship.
For now, Farmaajo’s intervention underscores the stakes facing Somalia’s leadership: completing the constitutional project in a way that commands national buy-in, maintains the credibility of election timelines and avoids political shocks that could reverberate across the security and economic landscape.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
