Somalia’s federal parliament expired on April 14, 2026, and within hours the government told foreign ambassadors in Mogadishu that both legislature and executive would remain in office for another year under a constitutional provision.
The assertion came from Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Hosh, Justice Minister Hassan Moalim and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Bal’ad during a briefing at the fortified Halane diplomatic compound near the airport. They said the extension was grounded in the new constitution that entered into force in March, and that preparations were underway for a transition to one-person, one-vote elections starting at the regional level.
Opposition leaders reacted swiftly, warning the country was slipping into uncertainty and accusing the administration of misusing power. Among them, Abdirahman Abdishakur alleged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was financing his election agenda through revenues from the sale of public land, a charge the government did not address in the briefing.
Two days later, Puntland’s cabinet issued a statement declaring Somalia had entered a constitutional vacuum. Citing Article 60 of the provisional constitution, it confirmed the federal parliament’s mandate had ended on April 14 and noted the president’s term was set to conclude on May 15, 2026. The northeastern federal state warned of risks to national unity and urged the president to convene an urgent conference before his mandate expired to reach a consensus on elections for federal institutions and member states.
On the same day, the Puntland Council of Ministers, chaired by President Said Abdullahi Deni and Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, echoed those concerns. The council said the legislative term had expired without a consensus-based agreement on the country’s future and urged the outgoing president to use his remaining month in office to foster an inclusive political settlement that could lead to a mutually agreed-upon election.
The council also approved a Healthcare Cost Recovery Policy presented by the Ministry of Health, describing it as a strategic step toward long-term self-sufficiency in healthcare services amid declining international aid. The session included briefings from the ministries of Justice, Security, Interior, Environment, Planning, Public Works, and Energy, Minerals, and Water, focusing on regional stability and public service delivery.
While the federal government insists it is acting within constitutional bounds and seeks international financial support for its electoral plan, Puntland’s institutions argue the lack of a negotiated agreement has created a legitimacy gap that could undermine stability. The federal administration has not yet secured the donor commitments it says are necessary to fund the elections.
What constitutional basis does the federal government cite for its one-year extension?
The government says a provision in the new constitution, which came into force in March 2026, grants the legislature and executive a one-year mandate extension after its entry into force.
Why does Puntland believe Somalia is in a constitutional vacuum?
Puntland’s cabinet and council argue that the federal parliament’s mandate expired on April 14, 2026, without a consensus-based agreement on the country’s future, creating constitutional ambiguity and risks to governance.
What electoral plan has the federal government outlined?
It plans to organize elections based on one-person, one-vote, beginning at the regional level with state presidents and local councils before advancing to federal polls.