Mogadishu – Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has called for the remaining days of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term to be used to build an inclusive electoral process acceptable to all political stakeholders, in order to prevent political instability.
Speaking about the current political situation on Friday, Farmaajo noted that May 15, 2026, will mark the end of President Hassan Sheikh’s constitutional term. He stressed the need for consensus on the country’s electoral path.
Farmaajo also urged the federal government to immediately release journalists and individuals he said had defended community interests amid the ongoing political tensions. He argued that such arrests violate Somalia’s constitution and laws, and reflect what he described as a troubling political direction under the current administration.
The former president further criticized the government’s recent announcement of a housing project for displaced families in Mogadishu, describing it as an attempt to ease growing public pressure and social unrest. He questioned the feasibility of the plan, noting that no clear budget had been allocated for the initiative, especially with only a few days remaining in the government’s current term.
The remarks come amid escalating political tensions ahead of the May 15 deadline, with Somalia’s political stakeholders still divided over the electoral model and timeline, despite parliament’s approval of constitutional amendments extending federal institution mandates from four to five years
