Sunday March 24, 2024
GAROWE, Somalia — Former Somali Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed convened from March 21 to 23, 2024, in Garowe, the administrative seat of Puntland, to deliberate over Somalia'sescalating constitutional debates.
The ex-leaders jointly expressed their opposition to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's government's proposed changes to the Somali constitution. Despite disagreements between the Federal Government and Puntland, they emphasized the importance of maintaining national unity and governance integrity.
They urged the Somali Federal Parliament to stand united and resist any unauthorized changes to the constitution. The former presidents criticized President Mohamud for deviating from earlier agreements meant to resolve tensions with Puntland. They advocated for adherence to legal and consensual approaches in line with the country's constitution.
The leaders announced plans to hold a national conference to address the critical challenges threatening Somalia's unity. They pledged to establish a committee dedicated to planning the conference, focusing on logistics and structure.
Their gathering, amidst a backdrop of historical political disagreements and recent disputes over constitutional reforms, marks a pivotal moment.
Prior to the meeting, Sheikh Sharif publicly criticized constitutional changes as unilateral. During a press conference in Mogadishu, Sharif said clan politics was rising under President Mohamud's leadership, marking a continuation of political practices that threaten national unity.
This political turmoil traces back to divisions during the last election cycle, when opposition figures, including Sheikh Sharif, aligned against then-incumbent President Farmajo. Despite past rivalries, Sheikh Sharif and Farmajo have now unified their positions against President Mohamud's government's perceived unilateralism.
The meetings in Garowe, which were attended by prominent local leaders and dignitaries, highlighted Puntland's emerging role as a major center of opposition. Both former presidents joined Puntland's President, Saeed Abdullahi Deni, in opposing the proposed constitutional amendments. Their unity was a significant turn, considering Puntland's historical stance against Farmajo's government and its critical role in the political dynamics leading to Hassan Sheikh's election victory in 2022.
Amid these opposition voices, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre assured that the constitutional process was in "safe hands," emphasizing the government's commitment to establishing electoral commissions and enacting laws to guide the upcoming elections.