MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition-aligned Somali Future Council said it will convene a high-level meeting on April 10 to consider “measures to save Somalia’s statehood,” escalating a confrontation with the federal government after talks between the two sides collapsed last week.
In a statement issued following a conference in Mogadishu attended by members of the Federal Parliament, political figures and representatives from civil society, the Council alleged the government’s push to amend the Provisional Constitution violates established procedures and risks plunging the country into a constitutional crisis ahead of key political deadlines.
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The communiqué said documents and legal analysis presented at the conference show the ongoing constitutional review process is inconsistent with Article 134 of the Provisional Constitution, which outlines how amendments must be carried out. The Council accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Speakers of both houses of Parliament of breaching constitutional provisions and parliamentary rules to force through reforms.
The group also claimed that more than 50 lawmakers were unlawfully barred from attending recent parliamentary sessions because of their opposition to the reform track. It warned that delays in state-level legislatures and uncertainty over upcoming regional elections threaten a peaceful political transition.
The Council called for immediate state legislature elections conducted in line with state constitutions and the federal principle of separation of powers, framing the step as essential to maintain legitimacy and avoid a power vacuum.
The development follows the breakdown of negotiations last week between the federal government and the Somali Future Council, with each side blaming the other for the collapse. The standoff is intensifying as the mandates of both houses of Parliament are due to expire on April 14, raising the stakes for an agreement on the path to elections and the constitutional framework governing them.
Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni, a senior figure within the Council, used the Mogadishu gathering to urge the National Consultative Council — the forum of federal and regional state leaders — to assume responsibility for brokering a negotiated electoral process.
Deni argued that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose term is nearing its end, is not positioned to steer a consensus-based election and accused him of taking steps that risk deepening the deadlock. He called on regional leaders to intervene to prevent what he termed a constitutional vacuum.
The Council’s statement sharpened its demands as it set the April 10 meeting, signaling an effort to consolidate opposition ranks and align state-level timelines with a national roadmap. With the calendar compressing — and rival interpretations of the constitution hardening — political actors are bracing for a decisive fortnight that could shape Somalia’s transition.
- Key allegations by the Somali Future Council:
- The constitutional review process violates Article 134 of the Provisional Constitution.
- Leaders of the executive and legislature have breached constitutional and procedural rules.
- More than 50 MPs were unlawfully barred from parliament due to their stance on reforms.
- What the Council is urging:
- Immediate state legislature elections in line with state constitutions.
- Respect for federal principles, including separation of powers.
- National Consultative Council stewardship of a negotiated electoral process.
- Dates to watch:
- April 10 — Future Council to convene high-level meeting in Mogadishu.
- April 14 — Mandates of both houses of Parliament set to expire.
The federal government and its allies have defended the constitutional review as a necessary step to streamline governance and stabilize the electoral system, but the latest rupture underscores how contested the process remains. With legal timelines converging and trust eroding, Somalia’s leaders face mounting pressure to deliver a credible, negotiated path that avoids institutional paralysis.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
