Mogadishu (Kaab TV) — Two Somali federal ministers from Puntland have resigned in protest over constitutional amendments approved on Wednesday, intensifying political tensions between Mogadishu and regional leaders.

Aynaashe Yusuf Hussein, State Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, and Ismail Buraale, State Minister for Petroleum and Minerals—both members of the House of the People representing constituencies in Puntland—announced their resignations following a parliamentary vote to adopt a revised constitution.

In a statement, Aynaashe accused the federal leadership of attempting to reshape Somalia’s governance into a system dominated by a single authority, warning that such changes could threaten national unity and the federal balance.

“The people of Puntland entrusted me with this seat,” he said. “I cannot be part of anything that harms them and their government.”

He also alleged that lawmakers from Puntland had been obstructed from carrying out their constitutional duties and prevented from traveling to their constituencies, describing the situation as a violation of parliamentary rights.

Ismail Buraale said he opposed what he described as an incomplete and unilateral constitutional process. He argued that fundamental amendments require broad consultation and national consensus, rather than approval through a parliamentary session marked by opposition boycotts.

The presidency and the prime minister’s office have not yet publicly responded to the resignations.

The departures follow the approval of a revised constitution by Somalia’s bicameral parliament on Wednesday, formally replacing the provisional charter adopted in 2012 at the end of the country’s transitional period.

During a joint sitting of the House of the People and the Upper House, 223 lawmakers voted in favor of the amended document, including 186 members of the lower house and 37 senators.

Government officials have described the new constitution as a milestone in Somalia’s state-building process, saying it clarifies the division of powers between federal and state authorities and strengthens institutional governance.

Opposition figures, however, argue that the process lacked sufficient political consensus and risks exacerbating tensions between the federal government and regional administrations at a sensitive political moment.

The resignations underscore widening political divisions as Somalia approaches key electoral deadlines, with debates continuing over the structure of its federal system and the future direction of national governance.

Mogadishu (Kaab TV) — Somalia’s federal parliament on Wednesday approved a revised constitution, formally ending more than a decade under the provisional charter adopted during the country’s fragile post-conflict transition.

In a joint sitting of the House of the People and the Upper House, 223 lawmakers voted in favor of the amended constitution, including 186 members of the lower house and 37 senators. No votes were recorded against the measure, although many opposition lawmakers boycotted the session.

Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, declared the constitution officially adopted and in force nationwide. “The Official Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia has been legally adopted and will now take effect across the country,” he told the chamber.

The approval concludes a review process covering Chapters 1 through 13 of the constitution. Lawmakers said the revisions clarify the division of powers between federal and state authorities, strengthen institutional mandates, and define the country’s federal governance structure.

Government officials described the move as a landmark moment in Somalia’s long-running state-building process. Ali Mohamed Omar, the state minister for foreign affairs and a member of parliament, called it “a historic step for Somalia.” He said the revised constitution represents major progress in strengthening democratic institutions, clarifying the federal system, and moving the country beyond the long-standing provisional framework.

Hussein Idow, chair of the Joint Constitutional Review and Monitoring Committee, said the 11th parliament had fulfilled a key mandate by finalizing the document.

Somalia first adopted its provisional constitution in 2012, marking the end of the Transitional Federal Government and the creation of permanent federal institutions. However, several key provisions remained unresolved, and leaders repeatedly promised a comprehensive review that was delayed by years of political disputes.

Wednesday’s vote took place amid deepening political divisions. Lawmakers aligned with Puntland and Jubbaland, as well as those associated with the opposition Somali Future Council, did not attend the session.

In recent weeks, parliamentary debates over the amendments were marked by heated exchanges and procedural disputes, forcing several sittings to be postponed.

Opposition figures argue that fundamental changes to the federal structure require broad national consensus and inclusive consultation. They have accused the government of accelerating the process without sufficient agreement among federal member states and political stakeholders.

The federal government, however, has defended the amendments as lawful and necessary to provide constitutional clarity ahead of planned electoral reforms, including a proposed transition to a one-person, one-vote system.