Legal Interpretation of articles 53, 54, 138, and 142 of the Somali constitution

[Deeq A.]

This legal opinion provides a thorough analysis of four key articles- Articles 53, 54, 138, and 142- of the Provisional Constitution of Somalia, which together establish the country’s federal legal and organisational framework (Somali Constitution, 2012). Given ongoing political disputes and frequent misinterpretations of these provisions, the study clarifies each article’s legal purpose and role, focusing on the scope of foreign policy, the allocation of sovereign and resource powers and the legal transition framework for Federal Member States. Utilising comparative constitutional law, federal theory, and legal precedents like Texas v. White (1869), the opinion affirms the constitutional supremacy of the 2012 Provisional Constitution. It also rejects partisan misreadings of Article 1429 and provides normative guidance to promote legal consistency, national unity, and constitutionalism during Somalia’s federal evolution.

Introduction

This legal opinion addresses recurring constitutional misunderstandings and politicised interpretations of Articles 53, 54, 138, and 142 of the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia (Somali Constitution, 2012). Together, these articles form the backbone of Somalia’s federal governance model and define the division of powers between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States. In particular, this opinion addresses the growing misapplication of Article 142 of the Somali Constitution as a legal basis for unilateral withdrawal from constitutional obligations and the misreading of Article 53 as a source of shared sovereignty in foreign affairs.

This analysis draws on legal doctrine, comparative constitutional law, and philosophical theories of constitutionalism and federalism to offer a coherent interpretation. It also engages with relevant case law and international practice to demonstrate the constitutional dangers inherent in such misreadings. The aim is to present a definitive, academically rigorous explanation that clarifies public confusion and offers guidance to political and legal actors. 

Article 53 – Regarding Somali Consultation in Foreign Policy: Clarifies a procedural requirement rather than a division of sovereignty.

“The Federal Government shall consult the Federal Member States in the formulation of foreign policy on issues affecting the interests of the Federal Member States.”

Article 53 establishes a procedural requirement for consultation but does not grant Federal Member States equal constitutional authority in foreign relations, unlike the 2012 Somali Constitution. The term “consult” implies seeking input and engaging in dialogue, not sharing or transferring sovereign authority (Craig, 2012). Legally, consultation is different from achieving consensus or co-decision, meaning it does not authorise Federal Member States to negotiate treaties, represent the country internationally, or conduct diplomacy on their own.

The established normative understanding of consultation in comparative federal jurisprudence is clear. In Canada (Attorney General) v. Mikisew Cree First Nation [2018] SCC 40, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified that consultation is a procedural right that ensures participation in decision-making, without granting a veto or equal power in policy development. This interpretation is directly relevant to the Somali context.

In federal constitutional systems, the central government usually holds exclusive authority over foreign affairs. This principle is grounded in practical and doctrinal reasons: external sovereignty demands a single international personality capable of establishing legally binding relations with other states and international organisations (Wheare, 1963). Distributing this authority to sub-national units could lead to legal fragmentation, weaken national unity, and possibly breach international commitments.

Thus, while Article 53 affirms the importance of internal federal cooperation, it must be interpreted in harmony with Article 54 of the Somali Constitution, 2012, which reserves foreign affairs exclusively to the Federal Government. The result is a coherent constitutional scheme: Federal Member States are consulted on matters affecting their interests, but the Federal Government alone speaks for the Republic of Somalia in international law.  

Article 54 – About How Powers are Shared and the Legal Rules for Resource Allocation

“The allocation of powers and resources shall be negotiated and agreed by the Federal Government and the Federal Member States, except in matters concerning: Foreign Affairs, National Defence, Citizenship and Immigration, and Monetary Policy”

Article 54 of the Somali Constitution 2012 is a structural clause that delineates the division of powers, specifying what is subject to intergovernmental negotiation and what is exclusively federal. The four reserved areas, foreign affairs, national defence, citizenship, and monetary policy, are retained by the Federal Government in accordance with classical federal theory (Watts, 2008). These domains are constitutive of statehood and cannot be fragmented without endangering the state’s legal and political unity.

In contrast, resource allocation and other domestic matters are subject to negotiation and agreement. This division reflects a dual commitment to national unity and sub-national autonomy. For instance, natural resources such as oil, minerals, or fisheries located within the territory of a Federal Member State may require joint resource-sharing agreements. However, the Federal Government must execute international contracts related to those resources as the entity recognised under international law (Cassese, 2005).

Article 138 – On Constitutional 2012 Supremacy and Binding Legal Effect

“This Constitution comes into effect on the day after approval by a National Constituent Assembly”

Article 138 of the 2012 Somali Constitution clarifies its legal standing, confirming that the 2012 Provisional Constitution is active and enforceable despite being interim or lacking a complete institutional structure. Its authority stems from its adoption by the National Constituent Assembly and does not depend on the full implementation of federal institutions.

This principle aligns with broader constitutional theory. A constitution’s legitimacy and enforceability do not depend on its completion but on its acceptance as the foundational legal order or Grundnorm, in Kelsenian terms (Kelsen, 1967). Once adopted, all political and legal actors are bound by its provisions unless and until it is lawfully amended.

Article 142 – On Transitional Autonomy and Misuse of Incompleteness

“Until the final constitutional process is completed, the Federal Member States existing at the time the Provisional Constitution is adopted shall retain and exercise the powers conferred on them under their constitutions.”

Article 142 is a transitional clause designed to prevent institutional paralysis during Somalia’s post-conflict reconstruction. Its purpose was to allow Federal Member States to continue governing under their own constitutions temporarily while national institutions and a final constitutional settlement were being developed.

However, this article has been widely misinterpreted and misused. Some political actors claim that because the Provisional Constitution is “incomplete,” they can rely solely on their state constitutions and ignore federal directives. Others have gone further, suggesting that Article 142 allows them to disengage from the federal framework altogether legally.

This interpretation is constitutionally indefensible. Article 142 does not override Article 138. It does not grant Federal Member States legal immunity or autonomy from the national Constitution. It is a procedural accommodation, not a substantive reallocation of sovereignty (Somali constitution, 2012).

Why Article 142 Was Necessary Despite Article 138

The presence of Article 142 alongside Article 138 of the Somali constitution does not create a contradiction. Instead, it reflects the reality that while the Constitution is binding, the state was institutionally incomplete in 2012. Article 142 was intended to bridge the gap between the ratification of the Constitution and the formation of full federal structures, allowing Federal Member States to function lawfully during the transition.

This technique is common in transitional constitutional design. For example, South Africa’s 1993 Interim Constitution included similar transitional clauses that allowed provincial governments to exercise powers during a period of institutional reform (Klug, 2000).

Philosophical Perspective and Jurisprudential Analogy

From a jurisprudential standpoint, allowing unilateral withdrawal from constitutional obligations on the grounds of perceived incompleteness is a threat to the very notion of constitutionalism. As John Rawls observed, justice requires fair terms of cooperation, and political actors must accept those terms even when short-term outcomes are not favourable (Rawls, 1971).

The United States Supreme Court provides a historical analogy in Texas v. White, 74 U.S. 700 (1869), where the Court ruled that no state has a unilateral right to secede from the Union. The Court held that:

“The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union composed of indestructible States. The act of secession, whatever the motive, was absolutely null.”

Somalia, like other federations, cannot tolerate legal doctrines that treat constitutional authority as conditional. The principle of indivisible constitutional loyalty must be upheld. 

Conclusion and Final Legal Recommendation

Articles 53, 54, 138, and 142 must be interpreted as part of a coherent constitutional whole. Article 53 mandates consultation but not co-decision in foreign affairs. Article 54 reserves sovereign powers to the Federal Government while allowing for negotiated federalism. Article 138 confirms that the 2012 Somali Constitution is in full force and effect. Article 142 enables transitional continuity, not constitutional fragmentation.

The Constitution binds Federal Member States. The appeal to incompleteness does not entitle any region to opt out of constitutional obligations. To do so is to undermine the rule of law, invite institutional disintegration, and collapse the federal project. All political actors must commit to lawful constitutionalism, national unity, and good-faith cooperation.

The Constitution is not merely a temporary arrangement; it is the legal expression of Somalia’s sovereignty and unity. Its authority must be preserved, not negotiated.

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