Friday May 16, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – A bloc of 103 members of Somalia’s bicameral Federal Parliament has issued a joint statement calling for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to resign, accusing him of gross constitutional violations, abuse of power, and failing to lead the country through deepening security, economic, and humanitarian crises.
In a Thursday press release, the lawmakers accused the president of abandoning his constitutional responsibilities, including his March 29, 2025, pledge to convene a national dialogue with Somali political and cultural leaders. Instead, they allege he has pursued divisive policies that have further alienated the public and fractured national unity.
The parliamentarians charged the president with dismantling the National Consultative Council (NCC), interfering in the autonomy of federal member states, notably Puntland and Jubbaland, undermining the independence of key government institutions, engaging in corruption, secretive agreements, and widespread mismanagement, failing to uphold the constitution, which they say could be legitimate grounds for removal from office.
The lawmakers also expressed alarm over what they describe as a growing trend of authoritarianism, citing secret agreements signed without parliamentary oversight and the use of state resources to launch the newly formed Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP).
The demands come just hours after a similar statement from sixteen prominent Somali politicians, including former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, and former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khayre, Mohamed Hussein Rooble, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, and Abdi Farah Shirdon (Saacid). That group accused the president of eroding Somalia’s federal system, particularly by turning the NCC into a partisan political platform.
At the heart of the criticism is the recent launch of the JSP, chaired by President Hassan Sheikh and backed by top federal officials. Critics say the party’s formation blurs the line between state and party, using public institutions for political gain at a time when the country faces threats from al-Shabaab, economic instability, and rising public discontent.
Despite the mounting pressure, President Hassan Sheikh and the Villa Somalia leadership have not yet responded formally to the joint call from MPs or the wave of criticism from political heavyweights. The developments signal a deepening political crisis that could further complicate Somalia’s efforts to stabilize and transition to universal suffrage.