Somalia approves new constitution after 13-year process
Somalia’s bicameral parliament on Wednesday, March 4, approved a new constitution, concluding a process that has taken more than 13 years.
Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur, speaker of the House of the People, the lower chamber of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, said 186 lawmakers from the lower house and 37 senators from the upper house voted in favour of the constitution during a joint parliamentary session.
“Today is a historic day, worthy of remembrance as our constitution transitions from a provisional one to an official, lawful one,” Nur said.
The constitution will be formally signed into law by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
It replaces the provisional constitution adopted in 2012, when more than 800 delegates endorsed the document at a conference in Mogadishu while the country was under a transitional government.
Lawmaker and Minister of Family Affairs and Human Rights Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi said the move marks a major step for the country.
“Today marks a defining milestone for Somalia as we fulfil our constitutional mandate to complete and adopt our Constitution, transitioning it from provisional status to the supreme law of the land,” she said.
Among its key provisions, the new constitution extends the presidential term from four to five years. It also maintains that the president will be elected by parliament, while members of parliament will be chosen directly by citizens.
The document further states that the prime minister will be appointed by the president but can be removed from office by parliament.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
