HSM Stripped of Executive Power as Term Expired on 15 May

Somalia’s former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been stripped of full executive powers following expiry of his term on 15 May, constitutional sources and opposition groups said on Tuesday.

According to Provisional Constitution, Mohamud will no longer be able to carry out key functions, including direct dealings with military or dismissing members of the government, an opposition notice said.

This decision aligns with a ruling by the Somali Future Council (SFC), an opposition coalition, reached during a conference at Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu.

“The President will not execute any key functions,” the notice stated, adding that the federal government would limit spending to 40% of the budget allocated for elections and other essential expenses. No new contracts will be signed, except for existing agreements, while day-to-day government operations remain unchanged.

The SFC has proposed that Lower House Speaker Aden Madobe assume the role of acting president until presidential elections, now scheduled for 30 June — about 50 days after the end of Mohamud’s original mandate.

Mohamud was elected on 15 May 2022 and inaugurated later that month. His supporters, citing alteration amendments passed by parliament earlier this year, argue his term extends to May 2027 to allow time for electoral preparations. Opposition leaders have rejected the extension as unconstitutional.

International community has refrained from referring to Mohamud as president in recent statements and has urged adherence to an election roadmap, along with a moratorium on major new decisions during transition period.

Somalia’s federal parliament has also seen its mandate expire, originally set to end in April 2026, though it has extended its session. New parliamentary elections are pending.