AFTER four days of meetings in Mogadishu, Somalia’s political leaders have reached an agreement to reshape the country’s political system, according to a communique issued early Sunday by the National Consultative Council. The council, comprising federal leaders, regional leaders, and the mayor of Mogadishu, has agreed to introduce direct elections as early as next year and unify the election schedules. They have also endorsed the establishment of a presidential system for the country.
The agreement marks a departure from the previous clan-based power-sharing arrangement. The leaders have agreed that one-person-one-vote elections will be held every five years, replacing the previous system. A 15-member national election and border committee will be formed to oversee all local, regional, and federal elections. The first elections under the new system will be local council elections on June 30 next year, followed by regional parliamentary and leadership elections on November 30.
Significantly, the agreement abolishes the position of prime minister and endorses a presidential system. Under this system, the president and vice president will be elected directly on a single ticket, as will the regional presidents and their respective vice presidents. Implementing the presidential system will require a federal constitutional amendment, as the current constitution outlines a parliamentary system.
If nationwide popular elections are held next year, it will mark the end of the ‘4.5’ clan-based system that has been used for power-sharing since 2000. This system granted equal parliamentary representation to four main clans, while smaller clans shared the remaining seats. The last election based on this system brought President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to power in May last year.
Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the Minister for Interior, Federal and Reconciliation, described the agreement as a historic step forward. He emphasised that it ends the system used since 2000 and allows Somalis to have a say in their representation at various levels of government. ‘This is a historic agreement which brings an end to the system used since 2000,’ Fiqi said, adding, ‘It gives the Somalis the opportunity to have their say and entrust their vote with those representing them at different levels of local, regional and federal governments.’
However, some politicians quickly criticised the agreement, arguing that it would grant term extensions to regional leaders whose terms are set to end soon. Mursal M. Khaliif, a member of the Federal Parliament, called the communique an affront to Somalia’s provisional constitution and the supremacy of national laws. ‘Tonight’s communique by the National Consultative Council is an affront to Somalia’s provisional constitutional and the supremacy of our national laws,’ he said.
Notably, the president of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni, did not sign the agreement.
The communique did not address what will happen when President Mohamud’s term ends on May 15, 2026. Fiqi clarified that next year’s election will be considered a ‘midterm’ election, with elected officials holding their posts for two years until 2026, when the election calendar for local, regional, and federal levels will be unified.
(with VOA News)