Somali power struggle issues have reached a very dangerous point today on May 15 2026 because this is the exact day the constitutional term for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially ends. There is no legal agreement or consensus among the different Somali groups to allow any kind of extension which makes any move to stay in office look like a breach of the law.
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This Somali power conflict is getting worse because the president keeps avoiding real talks with the opposition leaders who are worried about the future of the nation. Instead of finding a peaceful way forward the government seems to be forcing its own people into leadership roles in places like Galmudug Hirshabelle and the South West state. Many people feel that these are not real elections but just political appointments meant to keep the current team in power regardless of what the voters actually want.
Security risks linked to the Somali power struggle and military misuse
The most worrying part of this Somali power conflict is how the national army is being used lately for political reasons instead of fighting terrorists. Units that were trained by international partners to fight Al Shabaab are now being sent to deal with political rivals in the city which is a very bad sign for everyone. Because of this Somali power conflict the security in the South West region has started to fall apart after the federal government intentionally pushed out the local security forces there. While the leaders in Mogadishu are busy fighting over who sits in which chair groups like Al Shabaab and ISIS are starting to grow stronger again in the countryside.
The government is so focused on the Somali power conflict in Puntland and Jubaland that they are creating big gaps in the defense lines that the terrorists are very happy to fill.
Corruption and the family business in the palace
Another big reason why the Somali power struggle feels so heavy is the massive amount of corruption and nepotism happening inside the administration. The president has been putting his family members and close friends in very high positions like his daughter Jihan who is now a senior advisor and his son in law Adam Roble who runs the Development Bank.
This kind of behavior makes the Somali power struggle feel like a fight for family wealth rather than for the good of the public. There are also reports of the government taking land from regular citizens in Mogadishu and selling it off for profit which has made people very angry.
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By firing experienced military leaders and replacing them with people from his own tribe the president is trying to lock down his control but he is actually making the country weaker.
The weakening of the fight against Al Shabaab
When you look at the rural areas you can see that the military operations against Al Shabaab have lost their momentum because of the Somali power struggle at the top. The soldiers on the front lines don’t know who to follow when the politicians are arguing about election dates and term limits. This Somali power struggle is basically a gift to the extremist groups who use the chaos to take back the lands they lost a few years ago.
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If the federal government keeps trying to start fights with regional states just to stay in power the whole country might slide back into the dark days of civil war. The international community is watching but the local leaders seem to be ignoring the warning signs just to win the Somali power struggle for themselves.
What lies ahead for the Somali people
The end of the constitutional term today marks a very dark turn for the nation if a solution is not found immediately. This Somali power struggle cannot go on forever without causing a major explosion of violence in the streets of the capital. We need to see real dialogue and a fair path to elections that everyone can trust or else all the progress made in the last decade will be gone.
The Somali power struggle is a test of whether the leaders care more about their titles or the lives of the millions of people who are just trying to survive. It is a very sad situation to see so much potential wasted on greedy politics and family interests while the enemies of the state are waiting at the gates.
In conclusion the next few days will tell us if Somalia can move past this Somali power struggle or if it will fall apart again. The people are tired of the corruption and the misuse of the army for personal gains. Everyone is hoping for a miracle that brings the politicians back to their senses before it is too late. The world is watching and the clock has already run out for the current government to do the right thing and step down or find a legal way forward.
If they keep pushing for an illegal extension the Somali power struggle will only get more violent and destructive for the poor citizens who have already suffered enough. We must pray for peace and for leaders who actually put the country first for once.
