MOGADISHU — Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke has said Somalia’s new constitution is still not a fully agreed national political settlement, describing it instead as an incomplete “document” due to ongoing divisions between federal member states and political actors.
Speaking on the Mizan Podcast broadcast by Don Media, Sharmarke said the constitutional review process has not yet reached the level of broad political consensus required for full legitimacy and nationwide acceptance.
He pointed to continuing disagreements between the federal government and regional administrations over key constitutional issues, including how the constitution should be formally adopted, the legal declaration mechanism, and the degree of consultation required with stakeholders.
According to Sharmarke, the lack of alignment among political actors has slowed progress on finalizing disputed chapters, particularly those related to power-sharing, federal-state relations, and institutional responsibilities within Somalia’s federal system.
He added that while some provisions in the draft constitution reflect positive reforms and progress made over years of negotiations, several sensitive articles remain contested and require deeper political dialogue and compromise.
Sharmarke emphasized that without an inclusive and widely accepted agreement, the constitution risks remaining politically fragile, even if parts of it are implemented in practice.
His comments come as Somalia continues its long-running constitutional review process, which has been central to state-building efforts since the adoption of the provisional constitution in 2012 and subsequent attempts at reform.
