By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Mogadishu, Somalia 16 December 2026 Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, a leading figure in the opposition alliance, has warned that Somalia is approaching a constitutional and political crisis as key electoral timelines near expiry without a national consensus on the next elections.
Speaking on Monday, at an opposition gathering in Mogadishu, Khaire said three years and seven months have passed since the election of the president, while only five months remain before the constitutional deadline for the next presidential vote. He added that the Federal Parliament’s mandate expires in four months, heightening the risk of institutional uncertainty.
Khaire accused the federal leadership of abandoning the constitutional framework that brought it to power and of failing to prioritise a political agreement on elections or a credible transition process.
The former prime minister criticised the voter registration and local electoral process in Mogadishu, describing it as coercive and lacking public consent.
He alleged that residents were registered under pressure and that security forces later sought individuals who avoided registration. He also accused authorities of compelling universities and public institutions to host electoral activities against their will, arguing that the process lacks legitimacy and public confidence.
While affirming his support for one-person, one-vote elections as a constitutional right and national aspiration, Khaire said Somalia currently lacks the political, legal, and security conditions required to implement such a system. He cited ongoing insecurity, noting that armed extremist groups continue to control parts of the country, making nationwide free and fair elections unfeasible within the remaining timeframe of the current administration
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Khaire questioned the legitimacy of the federal government to organise elections, arguing that the process has been monopolised by a single political party. He claimed that election management entities are linked to the ruling party and that the National Electoral Commission was appointed without broad political agreement. He added that several political organisations that initially registered in good faith have since withdrawn, citing lack of transparency and political interference.
The former prime minister also raised concerns over election financing, alleging that election-related expenditures are not clearly reflected in the national budget, reinforcing perceptions of a partisan process.
On the status of the capital, Mogadishu, Khaire stressed the need for a national agreement on the capital’s status to protect residents’ constitutional rights and ensure genuine political representation. He warned that the federal government’s proposal for staggered elections at district, state, and federal levels could be used to justify unconstitutional term extensions, potentially pushing the country into renewed instability.
Khaire urged Somali political leaders, elders, religious figures, women, intellectuals, lawmakers, and citizens to act collectively to prevent a constitutional vacuum.
He called for the remaining months of the current mandate to be used to reach an inclusive, time-bound electoral agreement overseen by a mutually agreed electoral body that safeguards clan representation and the women’s quota.
