Ex-Somali leader: “Hassan Sheikh Is Standing Where His Political Downfall Could Begin.”

MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 17 – Former Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has sharply criticized Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose 4-year term ended on May 15, accusing him of violating the constitution after remarks suggesting his mandate would continue until May 15, 2027.

Sharif said Somalia was entering a dangerous political phase and called for a broad political agreement on elections, rather than what he described as attempts to extend the government’s term in office.

“It is unfortunate that someone who has twice served as president and holds a PhD cannot understand that his time has ended and that an electoral agreement is needed,” Sharif told supporters in remarks that further escalated tensions between the government and opposition groups.

The former president said the opposition was pursuing legal and political means rather than armed confrontation.

“We are not carrying weapons, we are carrying the law,” he said, adding that the country’s disputes should be resolved through dialogue and constitutional processes rather than military force.

Sharif also said he and Said Abdullahi Deni were concerned about the country’s political direction and warned against any extension of the current administration’s mandate.

“Today, when he stands and says he has added another year to his term, I believe he is standing in the very place where his political downfall could begin,” Sharif said.

He dismissed any intimidation by government security forces, saying opposition figures were not afraid of military vehicles or armed personnel.

“We are people who trust in Allah and know what we stand for,” he added.

Sharif further accused the government of political repression and arbitrary arrests targeting critics, claiming that young people and politicians had been detained solely for opposing the administration.

He said the crisis was not clan-based but rather a constitutional and political dispute affecting Somalia’s future.

“We want to save our country from illegality, power grabs, and repression,” he said.

The remarks come as political tensions intensify in Somalia over disagreements surrounding elections, constitutional reforms, and the legitimacy of the mandates of federal institutions.

GAROWE ONLINE