JidbaaleThree senior Somali opposition leaders have asked President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to reject plans for a presidential term extension, saying that such a move would destabilize the nation and violate the constitution. In a joint statement on Saturday, former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame accused the president of postponing elections and seeking to prolong regional mandates to consolidate control.
The opposition leaders accuse President Hassan Sheikh of weakening Somalia’s democratic processes by postponing national elections and seeking to prolong the mandates of regional governors whose terms have ended. They say that this method violates the constitution and is a danger to Somalia’s democratic stability.
“The foundation of governance is rooted in the rule of law,” the statement claimed, denouncing the president’s measures as unlawful. The opposition leaders also emphasized the importance of national unity and collaboration to address difficulties, including foreign threats, such as Ethiopia’s military intrusions into Somali waters.
The opposition accused President Hassan Sheikh of attempting to prolong regional mandates until May 2026 without conducting the proper elections, calling this an illegitimate power grab. They said that elections should have been held earlier this year and cautioned that any additional delays will damage Somalia’s democratic development.
The leaders emphasized their strong opposition to the President’s extension of power over regional governors. They accused President Hassan Sheikh of destabilizing the nation by violating the constitution and delaying crucial elections.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni’s absence from this week’s National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting further demonstrates the depth of regional unhappiness with federal authority. Deni has boycotted the discussions, citing federal overreach and complaints over resource distribution and political representation. His disobedience, along with Jubaland’s hostility to the federal government’s planned one-person, one-vote (1PV) voting system, has created barriers to resolving the national political issue.
The opposition leaders asked regional leaders, notably those from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and South West states, to oppose any illegitimate mandate extensions and emphasize organizing early elections.
They congratulated the President of Jubbaland for refusing to prolong his regional term without first resolving the national political situation. “We commend the position of Jubbaland’s President for upholding the law and refusing to hold regional elections without resolving the political crisis,” the opposition leaders stated.
The opposition warned that efforts to prolong the president’s term would not only meet resistance inside Somalia but also bring censure from the international community. “The Somali people and the international community must defend the constitution and reject any moves to extend the president’s mandate,” they added, noting historical rejection of such acts by previous governments.
The letter also advised President Hassan Sheikh against using federal money to compel regional governors into supporting his term extension, calling such actions “destabilizing.” They encouraged the president to follow the legal framework and avoid measures that might further polarize the political situation.
