Somali President Lauds Passage of Constitution as ‘Historic’ Amid Rejection by Opposition

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has welcomed the approval of constitutional amendments by the Federal Parliament, describing the move as a historic step that formally ends the country’s long transitional political period.

In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, the president expressed satisfaction following the vote by members of the two houses of the Federal Parliament, who earlier approved the completion of amendments to the Provisional Constitution.

According to the leadership of the House of the People, lawmakers from both chambers passed the amendments by majority vote, marking a significant milestone in Somalia’s state-building process.

President Hassan Sheikh praised members of parliament for what he called a historic decision that finalizes the country’s constitutional framework.

He told the Somali public that the day would be remembered as a turning point in the country’s political development, saying it marked the completion of the national constitution and the formal conclusion of Somalia’s long transitional period.

The president described the development as a long-awaited national achievement that moves the country away from provisional governance toward a fully established constitutional system based on a solid legal foundation.

Hassan Sheikh noted that the Somali constitution has gone through a lengthy review and amendment process. He also placed the development in a broader historical context, stating that since independence in 1960 Somalia has experienced several constitutional and governance phases.

According to the president, the significance of the vote goes beyond the approval of a constitutional document. He said it represents the moment when Somalia officially transitions from a provisional system to what he described as a complete constitutional order with full legal legitimacy.

Somalia has operated under the Provisional Constitution since 2012 following the end of the transitional federal government. Hassan Sheikh said the country has therefore spent about 14 years functioning under a provisional framework, which he described as a legal limitation that hindered efforts to achieve full stability in areas such as politics, security, the economy, social development and international relations.

He said the approval of the amendments signals that Somalia has now reached a key national objective by establishing a comprehensive legal foundation to guide the work of state institutions and allow Somali citizens to shape the political direction of their country.

The president added that the new constitutional framework would provide greater predictability about Somalia’s political trajectory and strengthen governance through a clear constitutional mandate.

The parliamentary vote on the constitutional amendments comes amid ongoing political debate in Somalia, with some opposition leaders and federal member states expressing concerns about the process used to approve the changes.