Jubaland Raises Alarm Over Federal Government’s Threat to Somali Federalism
KISMAYO, Somalia — Somalia’s Jubaland regional administration on Saturday accused the federal government of overstepping its constitutional authority, warning that efforts to impose unilateral changes on the country’s federal system risk destabilizing political order and undermining national unity.
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In a statement issued by the office of the Jubaland presidency, the regional state said Mogadishu’s recent actions “would not change the status” of Somalia’s federal member states and stressed that the federal government has no power to unilaterally alter the constitution or the structure of federalism. Jubaland underscored that Somalia’s federal arrangement is rooted in consensus and cannot be reshaped by a single party or institution.
The regional administration said attempts to concentrate power in the center violate agreements that underpin the federal framework. It accused federal authorities of trying to weaken regional administrations through political pressure and measures it described as illegal.
- Interference in the internal affairs of federal member states by the central government, in violation of Somalia’s federal framework
- Efforts to push constitutional changes without broad-based agreement, which Jubaland said contravene the spirit of consensus-based governance
- Intimidation and physical assaults targeting lawmakers opposed to the proposed changes, purportedly endangering their safety
Jubaland’s statement specifically condemned recent incidents in the Federal Parliament, calling them a “serious failure of responsibility.” It alleged that members of parliament who oppose proposed constitutional amendments — which it said are being advanced by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud — have faced intimidation and violence inside legislative spaces.
The regional administration framed the moment as a test of Somalia’s commitment to federalism, urging adherence to the agreed constitutional order and calling for political disputes to be addressed through dialogue and mutual respect. It emphasized that the federal system was designed to balance power between Mogadishu and the regions, and warned that any breach of that balance could fuel division and instability.
Jubaland reaffirmed its commitment to defending the unity of the country, upholding the constitution, and protecting the rights and prerogatives of federal member states. The statement urged Somalis to remain vigilant against what it described as unilateral moves that threaten the federal bargain.
While the statement centered on constitutional boundaries and institutional conduct, it also pointed to the human stakes of the current standoff — particularly the safety of lawmakers and the integrity of parliamentary processes. Jubaland argued that political changes of national consequence must be negotiated rather than imposed, and that the legitimacy of any reform depends on inclusive participation across the federal spectrum.
The regional administration called for a return to dialogue under the existing constitutional framework, rejecting any measures it views as coercive or outside established agreements. It said lasting solutions require consensus among Somalia’s political actors and respect for the autonomy of member states within the federal system.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
