Ex-Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed: Hassan Sheikh stands where political downfall could begin

MOGADISHU: Former Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has sharply criticised Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose four‑year term expired on 15 May, accusing him of violating the constitution after the president insisted his mandate would continue until May 2027. Sharif warned that Somalia is entering a dangerous political phase and called for a broad political agreement on elections rather than any attempt to extend the government’s term in office.

“It is unfortunate that someone who has twice served as president and holds a PhD cannot understand that his time has ended and that an electoral agreement is needed,” Sharif told supporters in remarks that further escalated tensions between the federal government and opposition groups. He said the opposition is pursuing legal and political means rather than armed confrontation. “We are not carrying weapons, we are carrying the law,” he said, adding that the country’s disputes should be resolved through dialogue and constitutional processes rather than military force.

Sharif said he and Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni are deeply concerned about the country’s political direction and warned against any extension of the current administration’s mandate. “Today, when he stands and says he has added another year to his term, I believe he is standing in the very place where his political downfall could begin,” Sharif stated. He dismissed any intimidation by government security forces, saying opposition figures are not afraid of military vehicles or armed personnel. “We are people who trust in Allah and know what we stand for,” he added.

Sharif further accused the government of political repression and arbitrary arrests targeting critics, claiming that young people and politicians had been detained solely for opposing the administration. He said the crisis is not clan‑based but rather a constitutional and political dispute affecting Somalia’s future. “We want to save our country from illegality, power grabs, and repression,” he said. His remarks come as political tensions intensify over disagreements surrounding elections, constitutional reforms, and the legitimacy of the mandates of federal institutions.

The former president’s intervention follows the collapse of US‑ and UK‑mediated talks at Mogadishu’s Halane compound, which ended on 15 May without a breakthrough. The opposition Somali Future Council has declared that it no longer recognises President Mohamud’s authority and has warned that it will not allow a power vacuum or unconstitutional rule. President Mohamud, however, has insisted that his term extends until May 2027 under constitutional amendments passed by parliament in March 2026.

Sharif’s statement reflects the opposition’s consistent position that the president’s mandate expired on 15 May under the 2012 Provisional Constitution. Opposition leaders had long warned that the president would lose his legal authority after that date unless national elections are held or a constitutional alternative is agreed upon. The Federal Government has not issued an immediate response to Sharif’s remarks.

Political analysts note that the deepening standoff has raised concerns among international partners, who fear prolonged instability could undermine security gains and distract from the fight against Al‑Shabaab. The collapse of the Halane talks has left the country in a constitutional vacuum, with both sides holding irreconcilable positions on the president’s term length and the electoral model. Sharif’s call for dialogue and constitutional processes, while rejecting armed confrontation, signals the opposition’s intention to continue pressing its case through political and legal channels.