Somalia's President Signs the Amended Constitution, Ending Provisional Framework

by: Horn Observer Staff Reporter | 08 March 2026 23:23

Visits: 12792
(Rating 4.2/5 Stars) Total Votes: 5
0 0
Share via Social Media

Somalia's President Signs the Amended Constitution, Ending Provisional Framework

Mogadishu, Somalia – (Horn Observer)— Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on Sunday signed the amended constitution into law, formally ending more than a decade of governance under a provisional constitutional framework, a

Share

Pres. @HassanSMohamud has signed the new Constitution of the Federal Republic of #Somalia, marking a milestone in state-building & constitutional governance.

Mogadishu, Somalia – (Horn Observer)— Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on Sunday signed the amended constitution into law, formally ending more than a decade of governance under a provisional constitutional framework, according to an announcement from Villa Somalia.

Somalia has been operating under a provisional constitution since August 2012, when the country adopted a temporary legal framework to guide the formation of federal institutions following years of conflict and political transition.

Pres. @HassanSMohamud has signed the new Constitution of the Federal Republic of #Somalia, marking a milestone in state-building & constitutional governance. The government will begin its full implementation, strengthening institutions, protecting rights & advancing democracy. pic.twitter.com/KAoG0sZmXI
— Daud Aweis (@DaudAweis) March 8, 2026

Speaking at a signing ceremony held at the presidential palace in Mogadishu, President Mohamud said the federal government would move forward with implementing the new constitution, which had been approved by the national parliament.

"The federal government will implement the new constitution which was approved by the parliament,” the president said.

However, the move has faced strong criticism from opposition groups. An opposition alliance rejected the constitutional changes, arguing that the process lacked sufficient public consultation and broader political consensus.

The new constitution is expected to affect the terms of both the president and the parliament, which are currently set to expire in April and May respectively.

Somalia’s Minister of Information, Daud Aweis, described the adoption of the constitution as a milestone in the country’s state-building process and constitutional governance.

"The government will begin full implementation of the constitution, strengthening institutions, protecting rights, and advancing democracy,” he said.

Political tensions surrounding the constitutional process have grown in recent weeks. Last month, a National Consultative Forum aimed at discussing upcoming elections and constitutional reforms collapsed due to disagreements between the president and opposition leaders.

Two of Somalia’s federal member states, Puntland and Jubbaland, have also rejected the new constitution, saying they will neither recognize nor respect it. Officials from the regions described the document as a "unilateral” decision by the federal government.

The constitutional developments highlight ongoing political divisions in Somalia as the country works to finalize its federal governance framework and prepare for future elections