MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has issued a broad warning about the country’s political direction, saying deepening insecurity, constitutional disputes and economic hardship are threatening to reverse fragile gains made since the end of the transitional era.
In a statement released after weeks of consultations with politicians, clan elders, religious figures, youth groups and civil society organisations, Farmaajo said Somalia was entering a dangerous period marked by weakening state institutions and growing public frustration.
At the centre of his concerns is security. Farmaajo said the militant group al-Shabaab remains the country’s most serious threat, arguing that recent policy failures have allowed the group to regain ground previously cleared by Somali forces at significant human cost. He pointed to declining morale within the national army, blaming poor planning, corruption and what he described as politicised recruitment and promotions. According to Farmaajo, these weaknesses have not only undermined the fight against al-Shabaab but have also contributed to the resurgence of clan-based armed conflicts in several regions.
Politically, the former president accused the current leadership of abandoning Somalia’s long-standing reliance on consensus and compromise. He said the provisional constitution, adopted in 2012 as a unifying framework after decades of conflict, was being altered without sufficient consultation or legal safeguards. Such moves, he warned, risk eroding public trust and the legitimacy of state institutions at a time when political cohesion is already fragile.
Farmaajo also raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, arguing that elections perceived as controlled by one political camp could deepen divisions and undermine Somalia’s international standing. With the mandates of federal institutions approaching their end, he warned against unilateral term extensions or parallel political arrangements, urging leaders instead to return to dialogue as the only viable way out of the current impasse.
The former president painted a bleak picture of the economy, describing rising prices, shrinking liquidity and widespread corruption as forces squeezing ordinary Somalis and slowing business activity. He said the loss of confidence among traders and investors had driven capital out of the country, worsening unemployment and deepening hardship for vulnerable households.
Alongside political and security concerns, Farmaajo drew attention to the humanitarian impact of prolonged drought, calling for an urgent and coordinated response. He appealed to federal and regional authorities, the Somali diaspora and international aid agencies to step up assistance for communities facing food shortages and displacement.
Farmaajo concluded by thanking Somalia’s international partners for their continued engagement, while urging them to play a more constructive role in encouraging stability built on Somali-led consensus rather than short-term political arrangements. He also acknowledged the role of citizens and community leaders, saying their participation in dialogue remained essential to preventing further fragmentation of the country.
