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Somalia president pushes new constitutional changes amid election standoff

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is pressing ahead with further changes to the country’s provisional constitution, deepening a political dispute over amendments approved by parliament in recent years that the opposition and some federal member states say are illegal and must be reversed.On Sunday, the president met the Somali Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission and instructed its leadership to submit copies of additional proposed amendments to parliament for debate and approval.RELATED STORIESSomalia election crisis: Opposition council agrees to attend government talksSomalia presidet, opposition leader reach agreement to end personal grievancesSomalia opposition warn of parallel election within month if president spurns talksIn recent years, President Mohamud has overseen constitutional changes that critics say were made unilaterally, departing from a framework originally drafted through consensus between federal authorities and regional administrations. Those amendments altered key provisions governing elections, presidential powers and term limits.The opposition, along with the regional states of Puntland and Jubaland, has rejected the changes as unconstitutional. Both administrations have announced they are withdrawing recognition of President Mohamud’s government until it returns to what they describe as the constitutional path.This week, the federal government said it would convene talks with the opposition and with the leaders of Jubaland and Puntland, who are aligned under the National Future Council, in an effort to resolve a protracted dispute over elections. The announcement comes with just four months remaining before the scheduled presidential election.However, President Mohamud’s push for further constitutional amendments risks intensifying the crisis. Critics argue the move is intended to weaken opposition to plans that could lead to a term extension, an accusation the administration rejects, saying it is seeking to establish a nationwide one-person, one-vote electoral system.During a video conference on Saturday with leaders of federal member states allied with the government – including Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West State and the Northeastern State of Somalia – the president discussed three key issues. These included reopening voter registration for elections to choose local councillors and members of the federal parliament; reaffirming that the constitutional review process would continue and that remaining clauses and chapters would be submitted to parliament for approval; and allowing leaders of political organisations to travel to regional capitals to begin preparations for universal suffrage elections.In a further indication of his determination to proceed, President Mohamud instructed the federal electoral commission to prepare to travel to the capitals of allied federal member states to begin distributing voter identification cards and registering new voters. The opposition claims the commission was handpicked by the president and lacks independence. The move is aimed at holding local council elections between February and March.The commission organised a municipal election in Mogadishu in late December. The vote was boycotted by the opposition and criticised for failing to meet the basic standards of a free and fair one-person, one-vote election. The government, however, described it as a necessary first step, arguing that perfection cannot be achieved immediately and that repeated elections would allow institutions and voters to adapt over time.With no clear resolution in sight, Somalia’s political crisis appears to be entering a more dangerous phase. Despite government assurances that it is open to dialogue, its actions are widely seen as contradicting that message.At a conference held in December in the coastal city of Kismayo, opposition leaders warned they would organise a parallel election if the government failed to engage in talks and resolve the standoff over the electoral process. With President Mohamud’s term due to expire in May, they also threatened to establish a parallel administration if their demands are ignored.Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com

admin Published: January 25, 2026 | Updated: January 26, 2026 4 minutes read

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is pressing ahead with further changes to the country’s provisional constitution, deepening a political dispute over amendments approved by parliament in recent years that the opposition and some federal member states say are illegal and must be reversed.

On Sunday, the president met the Somali Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission and instructed its leadership to submit copies of additional proposed amendments to parliament for debate and approval.

RELATED STORIES

Somalia election crisis: Opposition council agrees to attend government talks

Somalia presidet, opposition leader reach agreement to end personal grievances

Somalia opposition warn of parallel election within month if president spurns talks

In recent years, President Mohamud has overseen constitutional changes that critics say were made unilaterally, departing from a framework originally drafted through consensus between federal authorities and regional administrations. Those amendments altered key provisions governing elections, presidential powers and term limits.

The opposition, along with the regional states of Puntland and Jubaland, has rejected the changes as unconstitutional. Both administrations have announced they are withdrawing recognition of President Mohamud’s government until it returns to what they describe as the constitutional path.

This week, the federal government said it would convene talks with the opposition and with the leaders of Jubaland and Puntland, who are aligned under the National Future Council, in an effort to resolve a protracted dispute over elections. The announcement comes with just four months remaining before the scheduled presidential election.

However, President Mohamud’s push for further constitutional amendments risks intensifying the crisis. Critics argue the move is intended to weaken opposition to plans that could lead to a term extension, an accusation the administration rejects, saying it is seeking to establish a nationwide one-person, one-vote electoral system.

During a video conference on Saturday with leaders of federal member states allied with the government – including Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West State and the Northeastern State of Somalia – the president discussed three key issues. These included reopening voter registration for elections to choose local councillors and members of the federal parliament; reaffirming that the constitutional review process would continue and that remaining clauses and chapters would be submitted to parliament for approval; and allowing leaders of political organisations to travel to regional capitals to begin preparations for universal suffrage elections.

In a further indication of his determination to proceed, President Mohamud instructed the federal electoral commission to prepare to travel to the capitals of allied federal member states to begin distributing voter identification cards and registering new voters. The opposition claims the commission was handpicked by the president and lacks independence. The move is aimed at holding local council elections between February and March.

The commission organised a municipal election in Mogadishu in late December. The vote was boycotted by the opposition and criticised for failing to meet the basic standards of a free and fair one-person, one-vote election. The government, however, described it as a necessary first step, arguing that perfection cannot be achieved immediately and that repeated elections would allow institutions and voters to adapt over time.

With no clear resolution in sight, Somalia’s political crisis appears to be entering a more dangerous phase. Despite government assurances that it is open to dialogue, its actions are widely seen as contradicting that message.

At a conference held in December in the coastal city of Kismayo, opposition leaders warned they would organise a parallel election if the government failed to engage in talks and resolve the standoff over the electoral process. With President Mohamud’s term due to expire in May, they also threatened to establish a parallel administration if their demands are ignored.