KISMAYO (Kaab TV) — Jubaland has accused Somalia’s Federal Government of undermining the constitution under which the country was established, warning that the ongoing constitutional amendment process is being pursued through procedures that bypass legally mandated mechanisms.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Jubaland Presidency said the process poses a serious threat to Somalia’s statehood and to the consensus-based provisional constitution agreed upon by the Somali people in 2012.
The statement said recent developments inside Parliament reflect what it described as “gross irresponsibility,” alleging that lawmakers who oppose the proposed amendments—reportedly backed by a president whose term is nearing its end—have been subjected to intimidation and physical abuse that endangered their lives.
Somalia’s Parliament on Saturday ended its session after chaos erupted for the second consecutive week, amid attempts to push through constitutional amendments widely viewed as controversial.
“The Jubaland Government makes it clear that the regions and people of Jubaland will not be subjected to a unilateral constitution drafted by a select group,” the statement said. “Such a document lacks the confidence of members of both houses of Parliament and the Somali public at large.”
Despite the Federal Government’s term set to expire in mid-May 2026, the Federal Parliament in Mogadishu has continued to pursue what critics describe as a unilateral constitutional amendment process.
Over the past two weeks, tensions surrounding the proposed changes have repeatedly disrupted parliamentary sessions, with opposition lawmakers rejecting the process and vowing to block it.
The Jubaland statement highlights growing political tensions over the constitutional amendment process and widening divisions between Jubaland and the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, Puntland State has also rejected the proposed amendments, insisting that the 2012 provisional constitution remains the only legally acceptable framework.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been accused by critics of seeking a term extension or changes to the length of his mandate, despite his current term set to end in May.
The political uncertainty comes as Somalia continues to face serious security challenges, with militant groups posing a major threat to the capital, Mogadishu.