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By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.STATEMENT RELEASED BY HASSAN ALI KHAIRE, FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF SOMALIA
————————————This press statement, coming three years and three months after the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, provides an overview and assessment of the country’s situation, the current crossroad of the state-building process, and the statehood of Somalia.
President Hassan Sheikh was elected and sworn in under a constitution that was based on consensus, rooted in a federal system, a parliamentary framework, and an agreed electoral process to take place every four years.
Unfortunately, Somalia today finds itself in a constitutional void, as the President has attempted to unilaterally alter sections of the agreed-upon provisional constitution of 2012—outside the legitimate amendment procedures.
Regrettably, the very constitution that once united the Somali people and state is now fragmented, with the President’s personal will replacing national consensus.
Thirty-five years ago, Somalia’s statehood collapsed under a ruler who scrapped the consensus constitution and entrenched himself in power.
Today, only 8 months and 25 days remain of President Hassan Sheikh’s mandate, yet no agreement has been reached on the upcoming federal elections.
This risks plunging the country, its people, and its statehood into fresh disputes and political uncertainty.
In Mogadishu, voter registration is already underway for an election process that lacks political consensus, legal legitimacy, and public confidence—anchored instead in coercion, force, and intimidation.
The unity of the nation is under severe threat. Relations between the federal government and the federal member states of Puntland and Jubbaland have collapsed, poisoned by the policies of President Hassan Sheikh’s administration.
This has fueled political fragmentation, new disputes, risks, and uncertainty that endanger Somalia’s national unity.
Conflicts ignited by the federal government are flaring in parts of the country. Alarmingly, Somali soldiers—trained to protect national security and fight extremists—are today entrenched against each other in battle positions in Gedo region.
Stagnant economy and displacement
The economy and businesses are facing great difficulty. Markets are stagnant, and Somali entrepreneurs are moving their investments abroad due to the harsh climate created by the current administration.
Many families, disillusioned by today’s grim reality, are fleeing to neighboring countries, while desperate Somali youth perish at sea, having lost hope in their future.
President Hassan Sheikh was entrusted with power while every district, ward, and neighborhood of the capital contained public lands belonging to the state.
It is a national tragedy that today, the President himself is selling off these public lands on the black market and forcefully evicting vulnerable families from them. Even worse, this land grab is extending to privately-owned lands, using state power to dispossess Somali citizens of their lawful property rights.
Somalia’s government remains dependent on international aid and subsidies, with 67% of the national budget funded by foreign donors.
Yet we live in a world where everything is changing, and decisions are no longer made as they once were. Major global and regional shifts are underway, requiring responsible engagement.
Corruption and misconduct
Corruption and misconduct under President Hassan Sheikh’s administration have led to a loss of international trust. Donors are now reviewing the funds they once provided Somalia, and there is growing uncertainty—even despair—about financing for the African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia.
Development projects funded by international organizations have failed to materialize due to the government’s lack of capacity and transparency, resulting in nearly half a billion dollars being returned to donors.
Our deep love for our country and people moves us. We cannot accept seeing Somali mothers forcibly evicted from lands they have lived on for decades by the very government meant to serve them.
We cannot accept the auctioning of public lands on the black market and their removal from the national registry.
We cannot accept that citizens’ private lands are being seized by force under the weight of state power.
We cannot accept that terrorists are expanding into lands sanctified by the blood of our national heroes, while the government focuses on displacing poor families—many of whom are relatives of soldiers defending the nation.
We cannot accept that government-trained forces, meant to protect citizens, are used to evict the poor, occupying neighborhoods and markets with checkpoints and coercive registration.
We cannot accept that national soldiers are fighting and killing each other in peaceful areas for the personal interests and political ambitions of leaders.
We cannot accept that Somali businesses are withdrawing their capital abroad, families are fleeing their homeland, and desperate youth are risking death at sea.
We cannot accept the erosion of Somalia’s unity, the creation of deeper divisions, and the deliberate dismantling of national cohesion.
We cannot accept a government reduced to corruption, land grabs, and exploitation of state power.
Finally, Mr. President, we say this: What we together rejected in your predecessor, we will also reject from you. Step aside for the sake of the country. Lay down power so that the Somali nation and people may be rescued.
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Hassan Ali Khaire is a former Prime Minister of Somalia and a current presidential candidate.
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