Somali President Signs Revised Constitution, Establishing Five-Year Terms for Federal Institutions

MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday signed a revised federal constitution into law, replacing the 2012 provisional charter and setting five-year terms for federal institutions in a move billed as a milestone for state-building but denounced by opposition figures as an overreach.

The signing at the Presidential Palace capped a contentious review that culminated last week when both chambers of the Federal Parliament approved the overhaul in a joint session. The new document completes a long-stalled process to revise all 13 chapters of the charter, which had remained provisional since Somalia’s transition a decade ago.

“Today marks the conclusion of the long journey of reviewing Somalia’s Federal Constitution, which had been provisional for some time and recently ratified by the Federal Parliament,” Mohamud said at the ceremony. “With God’s guidance, its implementation begins today.”

Under the revised provisions, the presidency, parliament and other federal institutions shift from four-year to five-year mandates. Speaker of the House of the People Sheikh Aadan Mohamed Nur, known as Madoobe, and Upper House Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi witnessed the signing alongside the chairs of the constitutional review committees. After the parliamentary vote, Madoobe said institutions would henceforth operate on the five-year framework—effectively adding a year to the current term.

Government officials argue the document clarifies the division of powers and strengthens national institutions at a time when Somalia seeks to consolidate fragile gains in security, governance and economic reform. They frame the completion of the review as a necessary step to close the provisional chapter and provide legal certainty ahead of future political cycles.

The changes have also sharpened political fault lines. Opposition figures accuse the federal government of advancing amendments without the broad-based consensus needed for foundational rules, warning that longer terms alter the political timetable and risk entrenching incumbents. Lawmakers aligned with the Somali Future Council—an opposition bloc that includes leaders from Puntland State and Jubbaland—largely boycotted the joint parliamentary vote.

The overhaul lands amid unresolved debates over Somalia’s electoral model and the evolving balance between the federal government and member states. While supporters say the new constitution puts the country on firmer legal footing, detractors fear it could intensify center-periphery tensions unless followed by inclusive dialogue and clear implementation mechanisms.

Key elements of the revised constitution, as described by officials, include:

• Five-year terms for the presidency, parliament and other federal institutions, replacing four-year mandates under the 2012 provisional charter.
• Completion of the constitutional review across all 13 chapters, ending the charter’s provisional status.
• A stated aim to clarify the division of powers and strengthen the institutional framework of the federal state.

The practical test now shifts to implementation. Legal experts and political actors will watch how institutions apply the new timelines, manage transitions and interpret the revised allocation of powers—particularly in areas where federal and state competencies overlap. The government has signaled it will proceed under the updated framework, while opposition groups are expected to press for further consultation and safeguards.

For many Somalis, the constitution remains more than a legal document; it is the blueprint for how competing political visions co-exist within a federal system still taking shape. Whether the new charter calms or deepens long-running disputes will depend on the next steps from Villa Somalia, parliament and federal member states—and on whether all sides see the text as a shared foundation rather than a political instrument.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.