Tuesday September 30, 2025
Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Upper House speaker on Tuesday urged lawmakers to accelerate judicial reforms and approve long-delayed legislation defining Mogadishu’s status as the capital.
Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi called for the creation of the High Judicial Service Council and the Constitutional Court, institutions he said are essential to establishing an independent judiciary and strengthening the rule of law.
“We call for the establishment of the High Judicial Service Council and the Constitutional Court, and for both houses to jointly legislate Mogadishu’s status,” Hashi said in remarks to Parliament.
The appeal revives a long-standing demand for a special law clarifying the capital’s authority, boundaries and relationship with the federal government. The 2012 provisional constitution recognized Mogadishu as the capital but left its final status unresolved until Parliament passed legislation — a step that has yet to be taken.
The lack of an official framework has fueled disputes over governance in Mogadishu, the country’s political and economic hub. Analysts warn that finalizing the law is crucial to prevent future conflicts between federal and local authorities.
Hashi’s remarks also highlight growing pressure on Somalia to complete institutional reforms more than a decade in the making. Independent judicial bodies, including the Constitutional Court, remain unestablished, raising concerns over accountability and checks on executive power.
The push for reform comes amid broader debates over federalism and power-sharing, which continue to shape Somalia’s fragile political transition.