Thursday May 15, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has strongly criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of deliberately violating key provisions of the Transitional Federal Constitution and warning that the country is heading into deeper political turmoil due to factionalism and exclusionary politics.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Farmaajo said President Hassan Sheikh has breached several constitutional articles — including Articles 50, 65, 87, and 92 — which govern national unity, the role of federal institutions, and the independence of Parliament.
“All of these articles clearly outline the president’s duty to safeguard the constitution, uphold national unity, and preserve the neutrality of institutions like the National Consultative Forum and the office of the Speaker of Parliament, which is not allowed to be aligned with any political party,” Farmaajo stated.
His remarks follow the launch of the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), chaired by President Hassan Sheikh, which critics claim was formed using state resources and government influence, blurring the line between state and party.
Farmaajo denounced what he described as the illegal use of public resources — including the national army, state media, and civil servants — in support of the ruling party’s political campaigns.
The former president also called on President Hassan Sheikh to restore the National Consultative Forum (NCC), include all federal member states, and reaffirm his commitment to inclusive governance.
“The unilateral decisions being taken — including suspending the provisional constitution, dismantling key national commissions, and excluding federal states from consultations — are plunging the country into avoidable crisis,” he warned.
Farmaajo’s comments echoed a joint statement released just hours earlier by sixteen prominent Somali politicians, including former leaders like Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Hassan Ali Khayre, Mohamed Hussein Rooble, and others. The group accused the president of eroding Somalia’s fragile federal system by transforming the NCC into a partisan platform, thereby undermining reconciliation and democratic reform.
They also criticized the appointment of key federal officials to leadership roles within the JSP, arguing it violates the principle of neutrality in public office and worsens regional polarization, particularly in Jubbaland and Puntland.
Farmaajo concluded his statement by urging the president to re-engage with absent regional governments, prioritize consensus-building, and allow free and fair regional elections to be led by current state leaders, rather than dictated from Mogadishu.
The growing backlash highlights the mounting pressure on President Hassan Sheikh as Somalia prepares for a critical transition toward universal suffrage and constitutional finalization, both of which now risk being overshadowed by deepening political division.