Baidoa (WDN) — With just less than a weeks remaining before President Hassan Sheikh constitutional term expires on May 15, 2026, Somalia’s President, is intensifying efforts to extend his hold on power, amid growing political tension and controversy.

While Somalia’s political landscape has long been marked by turbulence and contentious practices, recent developments in Baidoa signal a deepening crisis, one that reflects an alarming shift toward coercion and disregard for legal norms. President Hassan is poised to break with Somalia’s fragile tradition of peaceful power transfer, seeking to extend his rule beyond constitutional limits, a move that risks plunging the already fragile state into renewed chaos and a potentially irreversible conflict.

The federal forces under the direction of president Hassan recently took control of Baideo, the administrative capital of the South West State. In the aftermath, a controversial move unfolded involving parliamentary seat HOP204, previously held by MP Isaaq Cali Subag. The seat was stripped from him in a blatant and forceful takeover, and reassigned to a serving federal cabinet minister, Abdiqadir Mohamed Nur.

The incident has sparked outrage among a group of federal lawmakers who oppose what they describe as the growing entanglement between the executive branch and the leadership of Somalia’s 11th Parliament. These lawmakers, identifying themselves as the “Independent Parliament,” have issued a strongly worded statement condemning the action.

In their press release, obtained by WardheerNews, the group accuses parliamentary leadership of abandoning its constitutional role and aligning itself with executive overreach. They warn that such actions not only undermine democratic institutions but also set a dangerous precedent for governance based on force rather than the rule of law.

As Somalia approaches a critical political transition, these developments could further destabilize an already fragile system, raising urgent questions about the country’s commitment to constitutional order, peaceful transfer of power and democratic principles that may lead the country to a point of no return.

WardheerNews