President Mohamud Says Independent Judiciary Key to National Stability

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday closed the First National Justice Conference with a call for faster, deeper reforms across Somalia’s justice sector, stressing that a credible and independent judiciary is central to the country’s stability and state-building efforts.

In his address, the President said Somalia’s progress depends on a justice system that citizens can trust, noting that the Federal Government has already taken “concrete steps” to federalize the judiciary and strengthen institutions at both federal and state levels. He said these reforms are crucial for restoring public confidence and establishing a functioning rule-of-law framework nationwide.

President Mohamud highlighted what he described as tangible improvements, citing the recent apprehension of Somali nationals abroad, in cooperation with Interpol, whose criminal cases were returned to the jurisdictions where the offenses occurred. He called the development a sign of growing institutional capability and international cooperation.

The President made the constitutional review a central theme of his remarks, describing it as a national priority essential to political stability, clarifying institutional roles, entrenching a functional federal system, and updating key legislation to match modern governance and economic needs.

“The Constitution is the foundation of all our national laws, protecting our language, culture, religion, and the rights of every citizen,” he said, urging state institutions to accelerate efforts to move the document beyond its provisional status. He also praised the 11th Parliament as “the most active legislature of the Third Republic.”

President Mohamud pointed to broader national gains, including improving security in Mogadishu, rising infrastructure investment that is creating jobs for young people, major expansions in the armed forces, whose numbers he said have more than doubled, and growth in the education sector, including the hiring of 6,000 teachers with plans to reach 10,000.

As Somalia prepares for a universal suffrage election, the President said strong legal and judicial institutions were indispensable for protecting voter rights, safeguarding transparency, and ensuring that every ballot is cast freely and securely.