Somalia Parliament Votes to Amend Constitution, Extends Presidential and Legislative Terms

Somalia's parliament voted to amend the provisional constitution, extending the terms of lawmakers and the president from four to five years. The vote proceeded despite a boycott by the opposition alliance. The constitutional amendments were signed into law on March 9 by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Critics — including Puntland, Jubaland, and the Council for the Future of Somalia — condemned the move as a unilateral consolidation of executive power ahead of 2026 elections.