MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Federal Parliament has officially adopted the nation’s revised Constitution following a highly polarized review process. The landmark approval of Chapters 1 through 13 has triggered both jubilant celebrations from federal officials and severe backlash from regional administrations and opposition groups.
In a joint session of both chambers, legislators approved the Constitution by a reported majority. Presiding Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe), announced that a total of 223 members, comprising 186 Members of the Lower House and 37 Senators from the Upper House, voted in favor of the adoption.
Government Hails a “Historic Milestone”
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs immediately welcomed the vote, characterizing it as a historic accomplishment that finalizes a complex review process lasting over 13 years. Officials stated that the adoption represents a decisive move toward strengthening democratic institutions and clarifying Somalia’s federal structure.
“The Official Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia has been legally adopted and will now be implemented nationwide,” Speaker Madobe declared, echoing sentiments from lawmakers who view this as the culmination of weeks of intense parliamentary debate and chapter reviews.
Regional Fallout and High-Profile Resignation
However, the constitutional overhaul has deeply fractured the political landscape. Highlighting the severe rift between Villa Somalia and regional administrations, the State Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, Caynaanshe Yuusuf Xuseen, abruptly resigned from Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s cabinet late last night.
Caynaanshe, a lawmaker elected from Puntland, cited the profound, irreconcilable disagreements over the amendment process between the Federal Government and his home administration. “The seat I occupy represents the public and Puntland, therefore, I am satisfied with what satisfies them,” he stated, stepping down in protest following the recent collapse of high-stakes electoral talks in Mogadishu.
Tensions between Mogadishu and the regions have further escalated with the reported arrest of Ahmed Abdi Mohamud Hurre, a senior advisor to the Puntland presidency, who was detained in the capital under accusations of disrupting security.
Opposition Rejects “Flawed” Process
Meanwhile, the Somali Future Council, a prominent opposition coalition uniting Puntland and Jubaland leaders, issued a scathing press release categorically rejecting the newly adopted constitution. The Council claims the process blatantly violated parliamentary bylaws and failed to secure a legitimate, untainted two-thirds majority from both Houses.
The coalition accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of spearheading a controversial process marred by political pressure, coercion, and the intentional exclusion of dissenting voices. According to the Council, more than 50 Members of Parliament were actively prevented from participating in the parliamentary debates.
“A constitution altered through pressure, bribery, and procedures that deviate from the law cannot serve as a national constitution that unites the Somali nation,” the Future Council stated. With both the Puntland and Jubaland administrations explicitly opposing the amendments, the Council declared it will strictly recognize only the 2012 Provisional Constitution until a genuinely inclusive national consensus is reached.
