U.S. warns Somali Parliament Speaker over constitutional amendments, sources say
Madobe reportedly defended the process, insisting that parliament has the constitutional authority to debate and decide on amendments.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) - Somalia’s political temperature has sharply risen after reports that the United States warned House Speaker Adan Mohamed known as Madobe of possible sanctions and a travel ban over ongoing constitutional amendments.
According to senior sources close to the Speaker, U.S. diplomats from the United States Embassy Mogadishu told him that pressing ahead with the changes without broad consensus risks plunging the country into deeper political crisis. The message, described as unusually direct, urged him to halt the proceedings immediately.
Madobe reportedly defended the process, insisting that parliament has the constitutional authority to debate and decide on amendments. He told the diplomats that the review is open and transparent, and that the House of the People is acting within its legal mandate.
Yet the warning did not stop there.
How Far Is the U.S. Willing to Go?
Sources say U.S. officials demanded that parliamentary sessions be broadcast live, that quorum be openly counted in public view, and that voting procedures be fully transparent. Any irregularities, they allegedly warned, could open the door to sanctions and travel restrictions targeting the Speaker personally.
In a dramatic twist, a senior figure close to Villa Somalia told SomaliReport that Madobe has since reached out to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, expressing fear over the escalating tensions.
The Speaker reportedly told the President he cannot continue the constitutional process without full quorum and total transparency, as demanded by international partners. The pressure, the source added, has left him concerned not only about his political future but about his personal safety.
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Why Were Puntland MPs Forced to Turn Back?
As tensions mounted in Mogadishu, events in the airspace above Somalia added fuel to the crisis. More than 30 federal lawmakers from Puntland were forced to return to Mogadishu after their Daallo Airlines flight to Garowe was ordered back mid-flight.
The MPs had been heading to a consultative meeting convened by Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni to discuss the country’s constitutional and electoral disputes.
Several lawmakers accused the federal government of interfering in their constitutional right to travel and represent their constituencies. One MP described the incident as an attack on parliamentary immunity, while opposition figure Mohamed Adan Koofi condemned the move as illegal and dangerous.
Puntland authorities went further, accusing Mogadishu of “air piracy” and suspending Daallo Airlines from operating in their airports. The federal government has not publicly responded to claims that it ordered the plane to return.
Is Somalia Heading Toward a Political Showdown?
Behind the scenes, President Hassan Sheikh is said to be urgently contacting lawmakers inside and outside the country, urging them to return to Mogadishu for a crucial parliamentary session. Offers and reassurances are reportedly being made to secure a full quorum ahead of the vote.
The overlapping crises — U.S. diplomatic pressure, a threatened sanctions regime, regional defiance, and contested constitutional changes — have placed Somalia at a critical crossroads.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.