Lawmakers move to amend Constitution

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has won over key federal state leaders to amend the first four chapters of the Constitution, part of the promise he made when he came to power two years ago. But The East African reports he must now contend with those who see the process as flawed. The details emerged last week when the National Consultative Council (NCC) he chairs met for the 9th time and agreed on a way forward. The NCC is a caucus between the President, his Prime Minister Hamza Barre, Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama in the attendance of the leaders of four Federal Member States: Jubbaland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and South West states, plus the Mayor of Mogadishu. Puntland boycotted the meeting but a majority of the states backed Mohamud in spite of initial rumours they won’t attend. The NCC said they would go ahead with their earlier plans to endorse four chapters of the Constitution which the federal Parliament had identified and approved for review. The bone of contention, however, remains on security and structures that will run it. Many politicians – like former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khayre, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke and Abdiweli Ali Gas – criticised the lack of wide consultations when dealing with the Constitution. The NCC had proposed for elections to take place in June 2024 and state presidential elections by November 2024 via a three-party system. But this was seen as impossible, considering the country’s security situation.