The current political crisis in Somalia is reaching a boiling point as the country moves closer to a dangerous constitutional deadlock. May 15 2026 marks the official end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term and the people are making it clear that any attempt to stay in power after this date is totally illegal. Across Mogadishu you can see the tension in the streets as the opposition has started a smart strategy of spreading out protests in many different areas instead of just one spot to make it harder for security forces to shut them down.
Even former President Farmaajo has come out with a strong warning to the government telling them they must not block these protests or put restrictions on people who are just trying to use their rights.
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The current political crisis and the end of the mandate
Everything comes down to the date of May 15 because without a real agreement between the political players any extension for the president is a direct violation of the law. People on Somali social media are talking non stop about how the government might try to close main roads or stop movement near government buildings to keep the crowds away.
Activists are begging the police and the army not to use force or start arresting people just for their political views. It feels like the current political crisis is growing because the electoral process is not transparent at all. In places like Galmudug and Hirshabelle and the South West State the government is just hand picking candidates instead of letting a fair process happen and this is making people very angry.
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The way international money is being used is also a huge part of the current political crisis right now. There are serious reports that aid meant for fighting terrorists is actually being used by the president to take out his political rivals. This is a big deal because it means the tools meant to keep the country safe are being used for personal power.
Military shifts and security risks
The current political crisis is also moving into the military side of things which is very scary for the average person. Troops that were trained by international partners to fight Al-Shabaab are now being used to target political opponents. While the government focuses on staying in power they are also being accused of stealing national resources like taking land from citizens in Mogadishu and selling it off for profit. In the South West State we already see chaos because the federal government is ignoring the local security forces there.
By trying to create trouble in Puntland and Jubaland the government is playing a dangerous game. When the federal government tries to destabilize these regions it just opens the door for groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS to grow bigger and stronger. This current political crisis is literally making the country less safe for everyone.
Corruption and the family business
Nepotism is another reason why the current political crisis feels so personal to many Somalis. The president has put his own family in some of the most important jobs in the country. His daughter Jihan is now the presidential advisor for international affairs and his son in law Adam Roble is running the Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank.
Experienced leaders in the army and police are being fired and replaced by people from the president’s own clan or party just to make sure he stays in control.
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Money that should be helping the poor is being used to buy the loyalty of clan elders and other politicians. This current political crisis shows that the leadership is more interested in keeping power than following the constitution. If things don’t change by May 15 the current political Breakdown could push the country into a place it cannot come back from.
The people are demanding a fair transition and they want the current political Breakdown to end with a legal and peaceful election process. If the government keeps using force and corruption the current political crisis will only get worse for the people of Somalia.
