By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
Somalia, 28 January 2026 — A Somali lawmaker has acknowledged opposition concerns over the constitution review process, saying proposed amendments were forwarded to parliament too quickly and without sufficient consultation.
Abdullahi Abukar Haji Arab, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Somali Future Council and a member of the Constitutional Review Committee, told Dawan Media that opposition politicians are worried about the lack of transparency in how the amendments were prepared and submitted to parliamentary leadership.
However, he said the concerns have not reached a level that would prompt a boycott of the national consultative talks scheduled for 1st February.
“There is concern, but it has not yet been turned into a decision to boycott the meeting,” Arab said.
He added that the Somali Future Council has not yet formally debated the proposed constitutional changes, noting that the issue remains at an assessment and consultation stage.
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Arab said completing the constitution is unavoidable, but stressed that several sensitive issues require political consensus before any changes are adopted. These include the national security architecture, the division of powers between the federal government and regional states, the status of Mogadishu, and the judicial system.
He also noted that two federal member states — Jubaland and Puntland — have not participated in constitutional consultations so far, describing their absence as a political challenge that needs to be addressed.
On the opposition’s position, Arab said the debate centres on temporarily suspending the constitutional amendments until the consultative conference takes place.
“There is no rejection of constitutional amendments,” he said. “They should be paused until the meeting is held. If Somalis reach agreement, everything will be resolved.”
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