Somali parliament approves revised constitution after years of delays
Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, who was chairing the session officially declared that the Constitution of the Somalia had been lawfully approved and would enter into force nationwide.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) - Federal Parliament of Somalia on Wednesday formally approved the country’s Official Constitution following the completion of a comprehensive review and amendment process covering Chapters 1 through 13.
In joint sitting of the House of the People and the Upper House, 223 lawmakers voted in favor of the amended constitution. The vote included 186 members of the lower house and 37 senators. No votes were recorded against, although opposition lawmakers largely boycotted the session.
Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, who was chairing the session officially declared that the Constitution of the Somalia had been lawfully approved and would enter into force nationwide.
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“The Official Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia has been legally adopted and will now take effect across the country,” the Speaker said.
“A historic step for Somalia. The revised constitution has been approved, marking major progress in strengthening democratic institutions, clarifying the federal system, and moving the country beyond the long-standing provisional framework”, Ali Mohamed Omar, a State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Members of the Federal Parliament said.
Somalia adopted its provisional constitution in 2012, marking the end of the transitional federal government and the establishment of permanent federal institutions. Yet key provisions were left unresolved, with leaders promising a comprehensive review that was repeatedly delayed by political disputes.
Wednesday’s vote took place against a backdrop of deepening political divisions. Lawmakers aligned with Puntland and Jubbaland, and associated with the opposition Somali Future Council, did not attend the session.
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.