Somalia’s federal Parliament term expires amid electoral dispute

Tuesday April 14, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Federal Parliament reached the end of its four-year mandate on Tuesday, April 14, closing a term that has anchored the country’s post-transition political order since lawmakers were sworn in on April 14, 2022, under Article 60 of the Provisional Constitution.

The bicameral legislature played a pivotal role in the months that followed, providing the legal basis for the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on May 15, 2022, and the formation of the federal government later that year.

Political analysts warn that the expiration of the parliamentary term could push the country into a period of transition and political uncertainty, potentially curbing the ability of key institutions to carry out major legislative and oversight duties.

Abdulatif Muse Sanyare, a member of the House of the People, said the parliament will now function in a caretaker role.

“From today, parliament enters a caretaker phase. It can handle essential and routine matters but cannot pass new laws or approve major agreements until a new parliament with full legitimacy is formed,” Sanyare said. He added that the legislature’s power to hold the executive to account, including the ability to summon or dismiss ministers, is effectively on hold during this period.

Sanyare also said that if the Speaker of the House steps down, the First Deputy Speaker would take over in an acting capacity, since no internal elections can be held without a parliament that has a full mandate. His comments come as reports circulate that the current Speaker, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madoobe), may be preparing a run for the presidency of Southwest State.

The situation has been further complicated by constitutional amendments adopted by the federal parliament before its term expired. Among the changes is an extension of the mandates of federal institutions, including the presidency, from four years to five. The federal government has defended the amendments as a necessary step toward a one-person, one-vote electoral model.

But the revisions have been firmly rejected by Puntland State and Jubbaland state administrations, along with opposition groups, which argue that the Provisional Constitution clearly defines a four-year term and that the changes were made without broad national consensus.