MOGADISHU, Somalia – Just a couple of years back, before he snagged a second term, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was one of the loudest voices railing against tampering with the constitution, frequently slamming his forerunner, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, for allegedly scheming to prolong his stay in office.
The uproar was intense, sparking protests nationwide from all corners—civilians, opposition figures, and even military personnel, some of whom went as far as to revolt. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmajo, was accused of trampling on essential constitutional laws.
Ultimately, relentless pressure obliged Farmajo to step back; his attempt to cling to power unraveled when then Prime Minister Hassan Khaire took a firm stance. This seemed like a victory lap for Hassan Sheikh, yet it’s now turning into a gnarly ghost of past decisions.
Currently, the president faces allegations of orchestrating constitutional tweaks to extend both his own tenure and that of regional leaders, a twist that feels like déjà vu from his past critiques.
This past weekend, Jubaland’s boss, Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, bailed from the National Consultative Council (NCC), Somalia’s top decision-making assembly. Casting blame at Hassan, he accused him of sowing constitutional turmoil.
Meanwhile, Mohamud Aydid Dirir, an influential figure as Northeastern State’s Information Minister, called out Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for dodging the necessary prep-work for the 2026 elections. He articulated that NCC stumbled in averting an extension of power.
“Hassan’s authoritarian tactics are hitting a dead end. Just like Farmajo got shown the door in 2021, Hassan could face the same fate,” Dirir declared, as he berated today’s leadership for concocting artificial crises.
He cautioned that the relentless political thirst of President Hassan Sheikh might thrust Somalia into chaos, stirring a constitutional quagmire as the 2026 elections loomed nearer. Hassan’s push for a one-person-one-vote system stands at odds with many regional chieftains.
Somalia still teeters as a fragile democracy, often seeing its top brass tangled in power squabbles, making the climate turbulent. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud finds himself fending off challenges from notable past leaders, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Farmajo.
AXADLETM
