President Mohamud says Somalia must move beyond personality-driven politics

Saturday August 15, 2026

Dhusamareb (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called for a political system based on constitutional institutions, the rule of law and accountability, saying Somalia must move away from politics centered on individuals and group leaders.

Speaking Friday night in Dhusamareb, the president said political power should be exercised through institutions governed by clear laws
rather than through individual leaders or political factions.

“We do not want rule based on one man, nor do we want rule based on group leaders. We want the country to achieve rule based on political and constitutional institutions, which have laws, are subject to the law, and can be sued,” Hassan Sheikh said.

He compared the political system to Somalia’s financial and commercial sectors, saying banks, money transfer companies, telecommunications firms and other businesses operate under defined legal frameworks.

The president said politics remains the area in which Somalia lacks a fully predictable institutional system, contributing to the country’s continuing political challenges.

“The political leaders should ultimately be judged by their vision, policies and programs rather than their personalities or the individuals and groups supporting them,” he noted.

He cited Somalia’s recent one-person, one-vote elections in Mogadishu and Galmudug as evidence of progress toward a more participatory political system.

The president underscored the elections were conducted peacefully, with hundreds of thousands of people voting and multiple political
parties taking part.

“No one slapped anyone, no one threw stones at anyone. It was peaceful,” he said.

While acknowledging that the electoral system still faces challenges and requires improvement, Hassan Sheikh said direct elections were preferable to Somalia’s previous indirect system, which has often been accompanied by political disputes and security concerns.

Somalia has traditionally selected lawmakers and presidents through indirect electoral processes involving delegates and clan
representatives. The federal government has been working to introduce a one-person, one-vote system in which citizens directly choose their representatives.

Mohamud said he hoped the remaining electoral process, culminating in elections for both houses of the Federal Parliament, would be completed peacefully and contribute to greater political stability.

He particularly praised Galmudug and its residents for facilitating recent elections, describing the state as an example of how democratic processes can be conducted peacefully in Somalia.

The president also thanked Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoorqoor, for his role in facilitating the elections and maintaining a
peaceful environment.