Two somali ministers resign over constitutional amendment dispute

Two ministers from the Federal Government of Somalia, who also serve as Members of Parliament in the House of the People representing Puntland, have announced their resignation from their cabinet positions, citing disagreements over the constitutional amendment process and concerns about the direction of governance in the country.

One of the officials, Caynaashe Yusuf Hussein, who served as State Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, said his decision came after observing what he described as the mishandling of Somalia’s state-building process and the agreed constitutional framework. He accused the federal leadership of attempting to transform the constitution into what he called “a one-person–controlled system,” warning that such a move poses a threat to national unity and the cohesion of the Somali people.

Caynaashe further alleged that the rights of lawmakers elected from Puntland had been violated, claiming they were prevented from carrying out their constitutional duties and denied the opportunity to travel to the regions that elected them. “The people of Puntland entrusted me with this seat. I cannot be part of actions that harm them and their administration,” he said while formally announcing his resignation.

In a similar development, MP Ismaaciil Buraale, who had been serving as State Minister at the Ministry of Petroleum, also confirmed his resignation. He stated that he strongly oppposes the current approach to amending and finalizing the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, describing the process as incomplete and lacking the inclusive consultation and national consensus required for such a critical matter.

So far, there has been no official statement from the Presidency or the Office of the Prime Minister addressing the resignations or responding to the allegations made by the two ministers.

The resignations underscore growing political divisions among MPs elected from Puntland, with some supporting the federal government’s constitutional reform agenda, while others align with Puntland’s leadership in rejecting what they view as a unilateral constitutional amendment process.