Madobe Maintains Grip in Power as MPs Abolish Term Limits in Crucial Constitutional Changes

GOOBJOOG NEWS/KISMAYO: Jubaland Parliament has today approved changes to its constitution scrapping the presidential term limits effectively handing President Ahmed Madobe a continued stay in power as he marks about ten years since coming to power.

The state assembly sitting in Kismay amended Article 65 of the state constitution which restricted a president to two terms in office. In the new changes, the article now gives the incumbent free reign for the longest stay in power possible if elected.

President Madobe was first elected to office in 2013 following the formation of the Jubaland Interim Administration and subsequently re-elected in a controversial process in 2019.

The state assembly also changed the constitution to formally extend the presidential term from four to five years endorsing a resolution it passed last year extending Madobe’s stay in power for one more year. This was in tandem with similar resolutions in Galmudug and South West states.

The constitutional changes in Jubaland are likely to stir similar moves in other federal member state parliaments as regional leaders seek to firm their continued stay in power.

The assembly also amended Article 95 of the constitution granting itself absolute authority to propose and endorse changes in the constitution without requiring the input of the state residents.

Further, the MPs, most of whom are allied to Madobe amended Article 26 of the Constitution to introduce a mixed system of government which incorporates a parliamentary and presidential system.