Mogadishu (Somalia Today) – Somalia’s federal parliament on Wednesday approved sweeping constitutional changes during a joint session in Mogadishu.
Government allies hailed the move as a historic step in state-building, but an opposition bloc rejected it, calling the process illegal and lacking the required parliamentary threshold.
Lawmakers in the two houses endorsed what officials described as a decisive step toward finalising Somalia’s constitutional order after years of delays, disputes, and an incomplete review.
The vote marks the latest and most consequential step in President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s push to move Somalia beyond the provisional constitutional framework that has governed the country since 2012.
The process has repeatedly exposed deep divisions between Mogadishu, regional administrations, and opposition politicians.
Officials and pro-government lawmakers framed Wednesday’s decision as the culmination of a long constitutional review, saying it would help clarify the federal system and strengthen state institutions.
But the move immediately triggered a fierce backlash from opposition figures, who accused the government and parliamentary leadership of forcing through a divisive process without broad political consensus.
PM hails ratification
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre also welcomed the vote, congratulating members of the federal parliament, the national leadership, and the Somali people.
He called it a historic occasion marked by the ratification of various constitutional chapters by both houses.
In a statement, Barre described the completion of the constitution as a major milestone in state-building, democratic governance, and the development of a political system rooted in the rule of law and institutional accountability.
He said the outcome reflected what he called a broad-based process of national dialogue, deliberation, and consultation.
Barre added that it demonstrated Somalis’ collective determination to establish a comprehensive constitutional framework to guide the country’s future political, legal, and institutional development.
Barre called on all state institutions to uphold, respect, and implement the constitution’s provisions to safeguard national unity, promote justice, and ensure sustainable development for present and future generations.
He said that, from Wednesday, the constitution should be considered complete.
The Somali state now stands on what he described as a firm legal foundation, rather than a provisional constitutional arrangement, the prime minister added.
The prime minister said the main credit for the achievement belonged to the federal parliament, adding that the 11th parliament had earned distinction as the legislative body that finalised the constitutional process.
He also described the outcome as a victory for the Somali people, saying the constitution restored their right to elect representatives and determine political leadership.
Opposition rejects vote
The Somali Future Council, an opposition grouping, said it rejected what it called the so-called constitutional amendments approved on Wednesday.
The group argued that the process violated constitutional procedures, parliamentary bylaws, and the requirement for a two-thirds majority in both houses.
In a statement, the group said the process did not properly meet the required constitutional threshold and accused the authorities of ignoring parliamentary rules.
The council also alleged political pressure, intimidation, and vote-buying, and said dozens of lawmakers had been prevented from participating in parliamentary debates linked to the constitutional review.
It said it continued to recognise only Somalia’s 2012 Provisional Constitution as the legitimate national framework until a lawful, inclusive, and nationally agreed process adopts any changes.
The opposition bloc also accused President Mohamud of driving a constitutional agenda that it said was deepening political divisions.
This comes at a time when Somalia is facing serious security threats, economic strain, and humanitarian pressures, the council noted.
The statement warned that a disputed constitutional process could undermine national unity, weaken coordination in the fight against armed groups, and reduce the chances of reaching a broad agreement on the next electoral framework.
Federal tensions deepen
Wednesday’s parliamentary decision is likely to deepen an already serious rift between Mogadishu and some federal member states.
This is especially true for Puntland and Jubbaland, both of which have opposed parts of the constitutional review process.
The constitutional dispute has become one of the central fault lines in Somali politics, alongside disagreements over elections, power-sharing, and relations between the federal government and regional administrations.
Puntland has for months maintained its opposition to constitutional changes it says were not adopted through an inclusive national process.
It has argued that major amendments should be subjected to a referendum with the participation of all federal states.
Jubbaland has also been at odds with the federal government over broader political and electoral disputes.
This has added to concerns that the constitutional process is moving ahead without the consent of key stakeholders.
The widening split has raised fears among Somali analysts and politicians that constitutional reform could become another source of institutional paralysis if it is not backed by a broader political settlement, rather than stabilising the system.
Long-delayed process
Somalia has operated under a provisional constitution since 2012, after decades of conflict and state collapse following the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991.
Efforts to review and finalise the constitutional framework have repeatedly stalled amid disputes over the federal model, allocation of powers, the electoral system, and the balance between Mogadishu and regional states.
The latest push by Mohamud’s administration builds on a controversial round of amendments approved in 2024.
Those changes intensified opposition criticism and sharpened concerns over executive power and the future shape of Somalia’s political system.
Critics argued that earlier changes shifted too much authority toward the presidency and risked upsetting Somalia’s fragile political balance.
Supporters, however, said the reforms were necessary to end years of constitutional ambiguity and move the country toward a more coherent system of governance.
The government has defended the broader reform agenda as part of efforts to rebuild state institutions and eventually transition to a more direct electoral model.
That would replace the indirect clan-based system that has dominated Somali politics for years.
But in practice, constitutional reform has remained entangled with electoral disputes, elite rivalries, and questions over legitimacy.
Parliament unrest, election fears
The constitutional debate has also triggered repeated confrontations inside parliament.
In January, a joint parliamentary session descended into scuffles and shouting after lawmakers clashed over proposed amendments, underscoring the depth of tensions surrounding the review process.
Opposition figures have linked the constitutional push to wider fears about the electoral timetable.
Some warned that controversial changes could affect the rules governing the next political cycle and further polarise the country.
Such warnings carry particular weight in Somalia, where disputes over mandates and electoral procedures have previously pushed the country into dangerous political crises.
At the same time, Somalia remains under intense pressure from a persistent Islamist insurgency.
It is also facing humanitarian and economic challenges that many critics say require broader national cohesion rather than another prolonged constitutional fight.
Wednesday’s vote, therefore, gives Mohamud an important political win in parliament, at least formally, and allows his allies to claim momentum in a process that has dragged on for more than a decade.
But with Puntland and Jubbaland opposed and the Somali Future Council rejecting the outcome, the decision is unlikely to end the dispute.
Instead, it appears set to shift the battle over Somalia’s constitutional future from the parliamentary chamber to a wider contest over legitimacy, federal consent, and the rules of the country’s next elections.
