Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president of Somalia, has signed the country’s new constitution into law, replacing the provisional charter that had been in place since 2012.
The signing ceremony took place in Mogadishu on Sunday and was witnessed by the speakers of Somalia’s bicameral parliament. Mohamud said the constitution would take effect immediately and expressed hope that it would guide the nation toward greater political stability.
The new constitution introduces major changes to Somalia’s political system, including new qualifications for senior elected officials and adjustments to presidential term limits. Under the revised rules, candidates for top offices—including president, prime minister, and parliamentary speakers—must not hold dual citizenship or be married to foreign nationals, and both of their parents must be Somali. Those with dual citizenship must formally renounce it before seeking office.
The reforms also extend the presidential term from four years to five years, while maintaining a two-term limit. After completing two terms, a former president will automatically become a lifetime member of the Upper House of Parliament. Additionally, candidates for president and prime minister must be at least 40 years old.
Another significant change is the transition away from Somalia’s complex clan-based system for electing lawmakers toward universal suffrage, allowing citizens to directly elect their parliamentary representatives. However, the president will still be chosen by lawmakers during a joint session of parliament.
The constitution also formally establishes three levels of government: the federal government, federal member states, and local governments.
This marks Somalia’s first comprehensive constitutional framework since the outbreak of civil war in 1991, replacing the provisional constitution adopted in 2012.
Source: TRT AFRICA
