Senior presidential adviser resigns over dispute with Somali president

Monday April 27, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s political tensions deepened on Sunday after Senior Presidential Advisor on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Abdullahi Mohamed Nor resigned, saying his departure stemmed from disagreements with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over the country’s political course during a fraught transition.

In a statement, Abdullahi said the split with the president reflected growing differences over how the government is managing the ongoing political process and the broader direction of the country.

“Today, on April 26, 2026, I have resigned from the position of Senior Advisor to the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” he said. “I have made this decision considering the challenges and difficult political situations in the country, which could lead to political and security instability.”

He cautioned that failing to resolve the disputes now could further erode stability, urging an immediate and inclusive settlement that would bring together all major stakeholders.

Abdullahi also pointed to the looming expiration of the mandates of federal government institutions on May 15, 2026, saying a consensus-driven political deal is needed to prevent a deeper crisis.

The resignation lands at a moment of heightened uncertainty in Somalia, where election-related disputes and governance concerns have sharpened political debate and prompted criticism from opposition figures as well as some allies of the administration.

It also signals widening pressure inside President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s political camp. Lawmaker Abdirahman Odawaa, who previously served as secretary of the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party, has recently broken ranks with the government, alongside former intelligence chief Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe.

Together, the developments underscore the fractures building across Somalia’s political arena at a pivotal stage in the country’s electoral and constitutional process.