President to National Conference Seekers: “That Era Is Done”

By Zakaria Soohoyde

President Hassan Sheikh has declared the end of the traditional era of National Conferences, the primary mechanism historically used to establish and restructure the government. Speaking at the 81st anniversary celebration of the Somali Police Force, President Sheikh emphasized that Somalia has moved beyond the need for these large-scale national gatherings, highlighting the capability of existing governmental institutions to manage crucial state-building processes such as constitutional amendments and the establishment of electoral systems.

“That era is done,” President Sheikh stated firmly to consultation seekers and the broader Somali community. He criticized opposition politicians for their attempts to revive the extensive National Conferences previously held in neighboring countries like Kenya and Djibouti during the early 2000s. “We will no longer take our country’s matters abroad. Our governmental institutions are fully responsible for these tasks. We have rejected negotiating our constitution overseas and will not accept external interference in our electoral processes,” he asserted.

This announcement comes amidst escalating political tensions within Somalia. Recently, two significant regions—Jubaland and Puntland—have cut ties with the Federal Government based in Mogadishu. Jubaland announced its decision in November 2024 due to disagreements over the national electoral process, while Puntland followed in March 2024 over disputes concerning constitutional amendment procedures. Both regions are predominantly inhabited by the Darod clan, exacerbating clan-based conflicts. Additionally, Somaliland continues to remain outside the federal system since its inception, further complicating national unity.