Somalia Constitutional Crisis Reaches Critical Point: Parliamentary Mandate Expires April 14; Opposition Forms 'Council for the Future of Somalia'

With Somalia's parliamentary mandate under the 2012 Provisional Constitution expiring on April 14, 2026, and the presidential term expiring May 15, Somalia's political landscape is entering its most turbulent phase in over a decade. The national opposition — including the leaders of Puntland and Jubbaland Federal Member States — have rejected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's March 2026 constitutional amendments as lacking legitimacy due to disputed parliamentary quorum (161 of 275 House members and 34 of 54 senators voted, falling short of the constitutionally required 184 House members and 36 senators) and formed the 'Council for the Future of Somalia.' The Council maintains that the presidential mandate must conclude in May 2026 and that any attempt to extend it without a negotiated electoral agreement would constitute an unconstitutional act. Puntland, which withdrew recognition of the Federal Government on March 31 following the SNA seizure of Baidoa, is now operating fully independently. Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe sharply criticized President Mohamud, accusing him of 'promoting policies he previously rejected.' The simultaneous governance crisis and active al-Shabaab insurgency risk creating security vacuums and diverting SNA resources from counter-terrorism operations. The UN Security Council is expected to discuss Somalia at its April session.