MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The United States on Friday issued a sharp rebuke to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over his push to hold a unilateral, one-person one-vote election, warning that bypassing key stakeholders risks undermining legitimacy and stability in the fragile Horn of Africa nation.
“All relevant stakeholders should have a say in changes to Somalia’s federal and election systems,” the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs said in a statement. “Decisions taken without broad based support will lack legitimacy and distract from pressing security challenges.”
The warning follows Mohamud’s decision to convene a meeting of the National Consultative Council—excluding leaders from the semi-autonomous states of Jubaland and Puntland—during which major changes to Somalia’s electoral framework were endorsed. Both states, along with opposition leaders, swiftly rejected the outcomes of the meeting.
The U.S. statement underscores mounting international concern over what is perceived as an increasingly unilateral approach by Mohamud, whose administration has been criticized for marginalizing federal member states and alienating key political actors.
“Hassan Sheikh was hailed as reformer exactly 3 years ago. Since then he has enjoyed good press in the West, was treated with deference and lavished with budgetary support,” said Rashid Abdi, a Horn of Africa analyst at Nairobi-based Sahan Research. “That era is now coming to a close. Many are now beginning to see him as an unreliable partner for Somalia’s peace and even a destabilising force. The statement from Washington today marks a turning point.”
The rebuke comes at a time when Somalia faces persistent security threats from Al-Shabaab militants, as well as mounting public frustration over delayed reforms and deepening federal-state tensions. Analysts say Mohamud’s decision to proceed without consensus may further erode trust in federal institutions and fuel political fragmentation.
The U.S., a key diplomatic and security partner to Somalia, has long advocated for inclusive political dialogue and a stable federal system. Friday’s statement signals a shift in tone that could have implications for future U.S. engagement with the Mohamud administration.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
