Sharmarke: “Major Breakthroughs” in Constitutional Amendment Talks

[Deeq A.]

Sharmarke: “We have secured 80% concessions on contentious constitutional issues. Villa Somalia agreed to drop amendments to key sub-articles in Article Four of the Provisional Constitution.”

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) —The former Prime Minister of Somalia, Omar Abdirashid A. Sharmarke, who is a member of the Council of Salvation, yesterday said that major breakthroughs had been made in talks with the Federal Government of Somalia on constitutional amendments.

Sharmarke and two former parliamentary speakers split with members of the Alliance, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. “We have secured 80% concessions on contentious constitutional issues. Villa Somalia agreed to drop amendments to key sub-articles in Article Four, such as the election of the president directly by voters. Instead, the bicameral legislature will elect the president; and the president will not sack the prime minister. The bicameral legislature will be able to consider a motion of no confidence if submitted against a sitting prime minister,” said Sharmarke.

Sharmarke criticised the wing of the Alliance unhappy with the deal reached by his group with the Federal Government of Somalia. “Some members were for three years on board with the Federal Government of Somalia on all policies. They have never discussed with the government on key national issues [before the formation of the Council of Salvation],” Sharmarke added.

“The talks are still ongoing and open. Sub-articles on the Electoral Commission and the president’s term of office remain unresolved,” said Sharmarke, who was briefing the media in Mogadishu on the progress of talks with the Federal Government of Somalia to break the deadlock on constitutional amendments.

© Puntland Post, 2025

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