Somalia’s Parliament Debates Federalism Revisions as 19 Lawmakers Are Suspended
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s bicameral Parliament held a joint session Saturday to debate proposed amendments to the Provisional Constitution, zeroing in on federalism and power-sharing even as tensions flared over the process with the suspension of 19 lawmakers earlier in the day.
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The sitting — the seventh of the current parliamentary term and the 11th joint meeting of the Upper House and the House of the People — focused on Chapter Four of the draft revisions. Debate centered on Articles 49, 50 and 54, which define the structure of the federal system, govern relations between the federal government and member states, and set the division of powers.
The session was chaired by First Deputy Speaker of the Upper House Ali Shabaan Ibrahim, alongside Second Deputy Speaker of the House of the People Abdullahi Omar Abshirow and Second Deputy Speaker of the Upper House Abdullahi Hirsi Timacadde. Parliamentary leaders said Saturday’s proceedings form part of the second phase of the constitutional review intended to complete long-delayed reforms to the provisional charter adopted in 2012.
Members of the joint parliamentary committee responsible for constitutional review, working with the Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Committee, presented a summary of the rationale for the proposed changes and their expected impact on federal governance. Lawmakers from both chambers then debated the revisions and submitted recommendations for further committee work.
The articles under review address the core design of Somalia’s federal state:
- Article 49: Structure of the federal system, including the composition and organization of federal member states and the status of districts and regions.
- Article 50: Principles guiding relations between the federal government and member states, such as cooperation, subsidiarity and allocation of responsibilities.
- Article 54: Division of powers, clarifying which authorities rest with the federal center and which are devolved to member states.
Ibrahim said debate would continue at the next joint sitting, scheduled for Monday, as lawmakers work through unresolved and often contentious provisions.
The policy substance unfolded against a sharp procedural backdrop. Hours before the joint sitting, the leadership of the House of the People suspended 19 lawmakers for repeatedly disrupting proceedings during a Feb. 2 sitting. The suspensions were announced in a letter from the office of Acting Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker Abshirow, citing violations of parliamentary rules and efforts to obstruct legislative work.
The disciplinary action has underscored the depth of disagreement surrounding the constitutional amendments. Critics — including some lawmakers, opposition figures and federal member states such as Puntland State and Jubbaland — warn the revisions could shift the balance of power toward Mogadishu at the expense of regional autonomy. Government supporters counter that the reforms are necessary to clarify competencies, strengthen institutions and transition Somalia from a provisional to a permanent constitutional order.
Constitutional revision has long been one of the most divisive issues in Somali politics, reflecting unresolved questions about resource sharing, security responsibilities and political representation across the federation. While the current phase aims to consolidate rules and reduce ambiguity, the process itself has become a test of political consensus-building between the federal government and member states, as well as within Parliament.
Parliamentary leaders did not disclose a timeline for final votes, but emphasized that recommendations from Saturday’s exchanges would be incorporated into committee deliberations before returning to a joint plenary. With further debate slated for Monday, the immediate challenge for lawmakers will be to reconcile competing visions of federalism while maintaining order on the House floor.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
Saturday February 7, 2026
Mogadishu — Members of Somalia’s two-house parliament on Saturday held a joint session in Mogadishu to debate proposed amendments to the Provisional Constitution, focusing on changes to key articles including governing federalism and power-sharing.
The session, the seventh of the current parliamentary sitting and the 11th joint meeting of the two chambers, reviewed Chapter Four of the proposed constitutional amendments. Lawmakers discussed revisions to Articles 49, 50 and 54, which deal broadly with the structure of the federal system, relations between the federal government and member states, and the division of powers.
The meeting was chaired by the first deputy speaker of the Upper House, Ali Shabaan Ibrahim, alongside the second deputy speaker of the House of the People, Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, and the second deputy speaker of the Upper House, Abdullahi Hirsi Timacadde.
During the session, the chair of the joint parliamentary committee responsible for constitutional review, together with the Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Committee, presented a summary of the proposed amendments to Articles 49, 50 and 54. The briefing outlined the rationale behind the changes and their intended impact on Somalia’s federal governance framework.
Lawmakers from both chambers then debated the proposed revisions and submitted recommendations to the relevant committees for further consideration. Parliamentary leaders said the discussions are part of the second phase of the constitutional review process, which aims to finalize long-delayed reforms to the provisional charter adopted in 2012.
Ali Shabaan Ibrahim said the debate would continue at the next joint sitting, scheduled for Monday, as lawmakers work through remaining contentious issues.
Saturday’s session took place hours after the leadership of the House of the People suspended 19 lawmakers for repeatedly disrupting parliamentary proceedings during a Feb. 2 sitting. The suspensions, announced in a letter from the office of Acting Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, cited violations of parliamentary rules and efforts to obstruct legislative work.
The disciplinary action has underscored the depth of disagreement over the constitutional amendments, which face strong resistance from some lawmakers, opposition groups and federal member states, including Puntland State and Jubbaland.
The constitutional review has become one of the most divisive issues in Somali politics, with critics warning the proposed changes could alter the balance of power between Mogadishu and the regions, while government supporters argue the reforms are essential to completing Somalia’s transition to a permanent constitutional order.
