Somalia commission orders ministers in Parliament to give up dual roles
Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s constitutional watchdog has moved to force a long-simmering political question into the open, telling cabinet ministers who also sit in parliament that they must give up one of their posts.
Tuesday April 21, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s constitutional watchdog has moved to force a long-simmering political question into the open, telling cabinet ministers who also sit in parliament that they must give up one of their posts.
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In a statement released Monday, the Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission (ICRIC) said the instruction is grounded in the new federal constitution, which requires a strict separation between the executive and legislative branches. According to the commission, no official may simultaneously serve as a minister and a lawmaker.
The order reaches deep into Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s cabinet. Government officials say roughly 15 of the 25 ministers are also members of parliament, putting them squarely within the scope of the directive.
Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, who sits in the Upper House, is among those affected. Under ICRIC’s ruling, ministers in this position must decide whether to remain in cabinet or keep their parliamentary seats.
The commission said separating executive and legislative authority is vital to improving governance and pushing forward Somalia’s state-building efforts.
The decision also lands against the backdrop of an ongoing dispute over when the revised constitution should be fully put into effect. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously said complete implementation would wait until after his current term ends, a period now expected to last about 30 more months.
Even so, signs are emerging that the government wants ministers with parliamentary seats to begin stepping down from the legislature first, as an initial move toward carrying out the constitutional changes.
Some ministers, however, are said to be hesitant to abandon their parliamentary posts, worried they may not be able to win those seats back in future elections.
The directive adds fresh uncertainty to Somalia’s shifting political scene, where constitutional reform continues alongside unresolved disputes over elections and governance.