The Twilight of Legitimacy: Why Somalia Must Reject Hassan Sheikh’s Power Grab

The Twilight of Legitimacy: Why Somalia Must Reject Hassan Sheikh’s Power Grab

The constitutional fabric of Somalia is being torn apart by an administration that prioritizes personal survival over national stability. As the 2026 electoral milestone approaches, the current presidency has failed to deliver on security, development, or social justice. Instead of building a unified nation, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has presided over a period of unprecedented institutional paralysis and political division.

By unilaterally forcing constitutional amendments, the Federal Government has alienated regional states and silenced the voices of the people. This "one-man rule" approach has led to a dangerous breakdown in communication between Mogadishu and the federal members. The result is a crippled state where conflicting decisions and a duality of power prevent any meaningful progress for the Somali citizens.

Corruption and Coercion: The Tools of a Failing Regime

Reports of systemic bribery within the parliament and the misuse of international security aid have shattered the public’s trust in the executive. The national treasury, which should fund schools and hospitals, is allegedly being used to buy political loyalties and secure unconstitutional extensions. Furthermore, the politicization of elite counter-terrorism forces represents a grave threat to the very internal security they were meant to protect.

While political elites in the capital enrich themselves through land grabbing and nepotism, the provinces are being forced into submission. The imposition of puppet candidates in Galmudug and the South West is a direct assault on regional autonomy and democratic principles. These are not genuine elections but political appointments designed to consolidate a dictatorship under the guise of federalism.

The Somali people demand an immediate and transparent electoral timeline that respects the 2026 constitutional deadlines. We cannot allow the future of our nation to be bartered in backroom deals or secured through the barrel of a gun. Protection of citizen rights without discrimination must be the foundation of any legitimate government moving forward.

It is time for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to realize that his mandate is not an eternal right, but a temporary trust that he has broken. The growing opposition from both MPs and regional states signals that the era of unilateral governance is coming to an end. Somalia deserves a leader who respects the law, honors the regions, and puts the people’s safety before his own power.