Somalia Senate Speaker Accuses Government Institutions of Failing to Uphold the Law

MOGADISHU, April 26 – Somalia’s upper chamber speaker has returned to the political spotlight with a blistering attack on state institutions, accusing them of widespread disregard for the law as the country edges toward a critical electoral moment.

Senator Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, a seasoned and influential figure in Somali politics, said he had been away from public duties while recovering from health-related problems. His reappearance comes as tensions intensify between federal leaders and opposition figures over constitutional amendments and the rules governing the next election.

“The government must enforce the law, but we ourselves are the government, and yet we do not follow the law,” Abdullahi said, leveling broad criticism at what he described as the failure of state bodies to respect the country’s legal framework.

His return is expected to add fresh strain to an already divided political scene. Abdullahi has long been known for confronting executive power, and in 2021 he played a central role in stopping the previous administration from extending its term amid a similar election dispute.

Somalia is now facing a fragile political standoff as the presidential term approaches its end. The controversy has focused on a set of federal constitutional changes that critics say were pushed through without wide agreement and could further weaken the country’s delicate federal structure.

Although Abdullahi did not publicly side with any particular camp, his pledge to take part “regularly” in upcoming sessions signals that he is preparing to become an influential voice in the debate over Somalia’s political future.

The federal government has not yet responded formally to the speaker’s comments.

AXADLETM