Mogadishu – Political tensions are rising in Somalia as former Minister of Planning, Abdirahman Yusuf Ali Ainte, issued a strong warning to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, urging him not to pursue any extension of his term beyond the constitutionally mandated deadline.
Speaking on Tuesday evening at the official launch of his new political party (Xaqsoor) in Mogadishu, Ainte delivered a direct message to the president: respect the constitution and ensure that the upcoming elections are transparent, inclusive, and based on national consensus. President Hassan Sheikh’s four-year term is set to end in approximately ten months.
“The president must not attempt to extend his term by even a single day,” Ainte declared to a crowd of supporters and journalists. “We demand an election that all political actors can agree on — one that guarantees legitimacy and stability.”
The former minister criticized the federal government for what he described as a lack of clarity and direction regarding the electoral process, accusing it of “plunging the country into uncertainty.”
“There is still no clear plan for what kind of election Somalia will hold. That is deeply concerning,” he added.
Ainte warned that if no consensus-based electoral roadmap is established before the president’s term expires, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud risks losing his constitutional legitimacy.
“If there is no election before his term ends, he will become nothing more than the head of a political party — just like the rest of us,” he said.
His remarks come at a time of mounting criticism from opposition figures and growing concern among political analysts, who accuse the federal government of adopting a unilateral and divisive approach to the electoral process. In response, federal officials insist they remain committed to holding direct elections under the long-promised one-person, one-vote model.
The issue of term extensions is particularly sensitive in Somalia, a country still recovering from decades of political instability, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises.
Political analysts warn that any delay, manipulation, or ambiguity surrounding the election could threaten Somalia’s fragile peace and undermine its democratic progress.
With just months remaining, domestic and international pressure is intensifying on the Somali government to deliver a credible, inclusive, and timely election — one that avoids the political divisions that have repeatedly pushed the country into crisis.
