Somalia Moves to Implement New Constitution, Targets Direct Elections In 2027

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Cabinet has approved a resolution to accelerate the implementation of the country’s Constitution, setting a two-month deadline for drafting legislation that will define the structure and responsibilities of the federal government.

The decision was reached during an extraordinary Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Tuesday evening, as the government moves to translate constitutional provisions into laws governing the operation of state institutions.

A ministerial committee, headed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, has been appointed to oversee the process. Its immediate task is to prepare legislation outlining the structure of the federal government, including the size of the Cabinet and the responsibilities of ministers.

According to the government, the proposed legislation would be the first comprehensive law of its kind since 1968, marking a significant step in efforts to establish a clearer legal framework for federal governance.

Prime Minister Barre told ministers that the Constitution was already in force and that its implementation would proceed in stages, with new legislation expected to provide the legal basis for institutional changes.

He also reaffirmed the government’s intention to hold federal elections under a one-person, one-vote system in 2027, a major objective of Somalia’s ongoing electoral reforms.

The proposed transition to direct elections represents a significant departure from the indirect electoral arrangements that have shaped Somalia’s national politics for years, under which parliamentary representatives have largely been selected through clan-based electoral processes.

However, the government’s electoral plans remain politically sensitive, with disagreements over constitutional changes, electoral procedures and the distribution of powers between federal and regional institutions continuing to influence the country’s political landscape.

The Cabinet also discussed broader state-building priorities, including strengthening public institutions and improving administrative systems to support the implementation of the Constitution.

In a separate development, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation briefed ministers on the restoration of Somalia’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) country code system for airline ticketing.

The ministry said the restoration would strengthen Somalia’s control over airline ticketing procedures and improve its integration with international aviation systems.

The development is part of wider efforts to modernise Somalia’s aviation sector and strengthen the country’s management of civil aviation services.

The government did not provide further technical details about the restored ticketing system or specify when the proposed federal government legislation would be submitted to Parliament following the committee’s two-month drafting period.