Somalia’s 9th President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, has launched a blistering attack on his successor President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, dismissing his claims of constitutional progress as empty politics and warning that the current process risks tearing the country apart.
In a fiery response, Farmaajo said the Somali Constitution is not a document that can be “forced through, bought, or declared valid by a small group,” insisting that it belongs to the entire nation and must be built on genuine national agreement.
“The Constitution is something shared by all Somalis,” he said. “It cannot be imposed by pressure or force. It cannot be bought. And it cannot simply be declared valid because someone says so.”
Farmaajo argued that the very foundation of the Constitution lies in Somali unity, and without that unity, any claim of completing it is meaningless.
“If you are not working for Somali unity and cohesion, then the Constitution itself loses its purpose,” he warned.
Provisional Reality
The former president also addressed the long running debate over Somalia’s provisional constitution, rejecting criticism that the country has failed by not finalising it.
According to Farmaajo, the provisional status reflects political divisions, not legal incapacity.
“Many countries operate under provisional constitutional arrangements,” he explained, pointing to nations such as South Sudan, Sudan, Libya and Syria.
“The reason they remain provisional is the same reason ours does, political disagreement among their own people.”
For Somalia, he said, the Constitution can only be completed once Somalis genuinely agree on the shape of the state and system of governance.
“You can write a constitution in a night,” Farmaajo said bluntly. “The real weight is agreement.”
Somaliland Question
Farmaajo also revealed that during his presidency, the constitutional review committee told him the technical work was already complete, but that the real obstacle was political consensus between the federal government and member states.
Yet he refused to move forward without addressing one crucial issue, Somaliland.
“Somalia is not just five federal states,” he said. “A vital part of the country, Somaliland, was missing. How could we complete a constitution while they are absent?”
He warned that pushing ahead without Somaliland risks deepening the divide.
“If we finalise it without them, what would remain for them to join? It would only confirm their secession.”
“You Did Not Complete It”
Turning directly to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Farmaajo rejected claims that the constitution has now been completed.
“You did not complete it,” he said.
He pointed out that Puntland and Jubaland have already publicly distanced themselves from the process.
“You cannot tell important parts of Somalia that they have no role in the discussion or decision making about the country’s future.”
“Don’t Divide the Nation”
In a stark warning, Farmaajo urged the president to reconsider his approach before leaving office.
“Mr President, regain your conscience,” he said.
“The Constitution is not the property of a person, a group, or a political circle. It either unites the Somali people or divides them.”
With only months remaining in Hassan Sheikh’s term, Farmaajo warned against leaving behind a political crisis.
“Do not divide your nation,” he said. “You have only a short time left. Do not leave Somalia with another problem.”
Buying Votes?
Farmaajo also accused the current process of opening the door for future presidents to treat the Constitution like a menu, taking what they want and discarding the rest.
“What you have started allows every future president to walk in and order changes like food in a restaurant,” he said.
In his most explosive allegation, the former president claimed members of parliament were being pressured and bribed to approve constitutional changes.
“Some MPs are being tempted with money,” he alleged. “Bribery is being used to force approval.”
For many observers, the sharp exchange exposes a deepening political fault line in Mogadishu, one that could shape Somalia’s fragile political future for years to come.