Mogadishu (Somalia Today) — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo) returned to Mogadishu on Thursday after a two-year absence from the capital.
His arrival at Aden Adde International Airport comes at a moment of deep political crisis. Tensions are escalating over controversial constitutional changes and the 2026 election plan. Lawmakers, supporters, and other politicians greeted him at the airport.
Mr. Farmaajo, who served as Somalia’s ninth president, has been living abroad since he left office in May 2022.
A press release from Mr. Farmaajo’s office stated he returned to “strengthen national efforts” for political stability. The statement, dated November 13, 2025, emphasized his goal of finding a solution for an “inclusive election.”
The office warned that Somalia’s national unity is facing a “grave danger.” To address this, the former president will immediately begin “consultation meetings.” He plans to meet with political leaders, civil society figures, and other community stakeholders.
“These meetings will focus on the country’s situation and the challenges facing the Somali people,” the statement added.
A deepening political crisis
Mr. Farmaajo arrives in a capital city that is politically fractured. The core dispute is a package of constitutional amendments that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government passed in March 2024.
These changes are the most significant in Somalia’s history. They shift the country from a parliamentary to a presidential system and extend the presidential term from four to five years. The new rules also give the president the power to appoint the prime minister.
Most importantly, the amendments aim to replace Somalia’s indirect, clan-based election model with a direct, “one-person, one-vote” (1P1V) system.
The government champions these reforms as vital for democracy. However, a powerful new opposition bloc, the “Somali Future Council,” has rejected them as an illegal “power grab.”
The council includes the leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, two of the country’s most powerful states. It also includes former presidents and prime ministers.
In a statement from Nairobi, the council accused the president of “using unlawful tactics to centralize power.” They warned that they would reject the result of any “non-consensus election.”
Somalia has not held a one-person, one-vote election since 1969. For decades, the country has used an indirect, clan-based electoral system.
In this model, clan elders and representatives select delegates, who then vote for members of parliament. The new parliament members then elect the president.
A fractured landscape
The political infighting has had dangerous consequences. Analysts warn that the dispute has stalled the government’s military offensive against Al-Shabaab.
 The al-Qaeda-linked group has exploited this power vacuum. Al-Shabaab has regained significant territory in central Somalia in 2025, reversing many hard-won gains.
Mr. Farmaajo’s return is further complicated by shifting alliances. Many of his own former allies have already chosen a different path.
On Monday, a new political party called the “Haybad Qaran” (National Dignity Union) was formed. The party announced its own presidential candidate: former Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon.
This new alliance includes many influential figures. Its most notable member is Fahad Yasin, Farmaajo’s former intelligence chief and a key advisor. Mr. Yasin, widely seen as a “Kingmaker” in Somali politics, is now backing a rival candidate.
Mr. Farmaajo’s visit is not a simple homecoming. He returns to a political field that is fractured and complex.
He faces a two-front challenge. First, he must navigate the national crisis over the constitution. Second, he must reassert his relevance among an opposition base that is no longer unified. His own powerful allies have begun to move on.
The coming weeks will be critical. The outcome of his consultations could determine whether Somalia finds a path to a peaceful election or faces a deeper, more dangerous political crisis.
