Somali President Signs New Constitution, Introducing Major Political Reforms

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has signed a new constitution into law, ending the provisional constitution in place since 2012. The reforms introduce stricter qualifications for top political offices, extend the presidential term to five years with a two-term limit, and move parliamentary elections toward universal suffrage. The constitution also formally recognizes three levels of government: federal, federal member states, and local, aiming to strengthen governance and political stability in the country.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has officially signed the country’s new constitution into law, bringing an end to a longstanding provisional constitution that had been in place since 2012. The signing took place in the capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday, with the speakers of Somalia’s bicameral parliament in attendance to witness the historic event. President Mohamud stated that the new constitution takes immediate effect and expressed optimism that the law would guide Somalia toward political stability after decades of conflict and political uncertainty.
The new constitution introduces significant reforms, including qualifications for presidential candidates, term limits for top political offices, and changes in the electoral system. Under the revised law, individuals seeking senior elective positions, such as president, prime minister, and speakers of both houses of parliament, must meet strict requirements: they cannot be married to foreign nationals, cannot hold dual citizenship without formally renouncing any foreign nationality, and both their parents must be Somali. Presidential and prime ministerial candidates must also be at least 40 years old.
One major change under the new constitution is the extension of the presidential term from four years to five years, while maintaining a maximum of two terms. After completing two terms, a former president automatically becomes a member of the Upper House of Parliament for life. Another key reform is the shift from the clan-based selection of lawmakers to universal suffrage, allowing citizens to directly elect their parliamentary representatives. However, the president will still be elected by lawmakers in a joint parliamentary sitting.
The constitution also formally recognizes three levels of government: the federal government, federal member states, and local governments, strengthening the structure of governance in the country. This is Somalia’s first substantive constitution since 1991, when civil war broke out, and it replaces the provisional constitution adopted in 2012, signaling a new era of political organization and governance for the nation.