MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said on Tuesday that the country is entering a “transitional phase,” marking the first time a senior federal official has publicly described the current political situation in such terms.
Speaking in Mogadishu during a meeting attended by lawmakers and security officials, Fiqi said transitional periods often create instability and are exploited by individuals seeking to spread disorder.
“During transitional periods like this, many people who are thieves try to confuse and destabilize society. We will deal with them firmly,” the minister said.
Fiqi also stated that the federal government does not oppose opposition meetings, adding that political groups are free to gather at venues such as the Jazeera Hotel to engage with the public.
His remarks come days after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the federal parliament had extended the mandates of constitutional institutions by one year following the approval of a disputed new constitutional framework.
Opposition politicians and some Somali leaders have described the move as unilateral, warning that it could deepen political divisions at a time when dialogue over electoral reforms and constitutional issues has stalled.
The political disagreement comes amid ongoing tensions between the federal government and opposition groups over Somalia’s electoral system, constitutional amendments, and power-sharing arrangements, as well as continued security challenges involving the militant group Al-Shabaab.
