MOGADISHU (WDN) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a meeting with the civil society organizations to promote his push for a one-person, one-vote electoral system. But rather than inspiring confidence, the move has renewed criticism that the President is dangerously out of touch with Somalia’s collapsing political order and worsening security crisis.

While the President framed the gathering as a national consultation, it was little more than an attempt to legitimize a unilateral agenda. Over the past year, President Hassan has discarded the Parliamentary-endorsed Provisional Federal Constitution (PFCS) and authored his own “presidential constitution” without public input or legislative oversight. He has since drafted a new electoral law behind closed doors, handpicked his own election commission, and is now setting up a parallel human rights commission—all while dismantling the country’s existing independent commissions.

These sweeping, unchecked actions have alarmed a broad spectrum of Somalia’s political class, many of whom now question the President’s legitimacy to govern. What was once whispered among insiders is now being said more openly: that President Hassan may be dangerously disconnected from political reality.

The situation on the ground supports that concern. Al-Shabaab fighters are reportedly at the gates of Mogadishu, emboldened by the growing dysfunction at the federal level. Jubaland and Puntland have severed ties with the Federal Government, citing constitutional violations and exclusion from national decision-making. Meanwhile, the remaining three Federal Member States—Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and South West—are governed by presidents whose mandates have long expired, further eroding the legitimacy of the federal structure.

Despite this dire context, President Hassan continues to press ahead with his version of electoral reform, ignoring calls for inclusive dialogue and consensus-building. While the civil society leaders present at the meeting offered polite praise, several reportedly voiced concerns behind closed doors over the lack of transparency and the President’s authoritarian drift.

For many Somalis, today’s meeting was not a sign of progress but a stark reminder of how far removed Villa Somalia has become from the realities facing the country. As the state teeters between fragmentation and collapse, critics warn that the President’s insistence on imposing a personalized political agenda may push Somalia past a dangerous tipping point.

WardheerNews