Somalia’s political crisis intensified as opposition lawmakers outrightly rejected the recently appointed committee tasked with overseeing the election of the Speaker of the House of the People. The opposition argues that the process lacks legal grounding since both the federal parliament and caretaker government have surpassed their constitutional mandates.

On Sunday, Acting Speaker Sadia Yasin Haji Samatar announced a nine-member committee to manage the Speaker’s election, citing Articles 87 and 88 of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and parliamentary rules. The committee was charged with ensuring a transparent election process and was ordered to commence work immediately.

However, opposition MPs condemned the committee’s formation, pointing out that the 11th Federal Parliament’s term expired on April 14, 2026, and the caretaker government’s mandate ended on May 15, 2026. They highlighted that the committee was appointed by institutions no longer legally authorized, accusing the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) of exploiting these expired bodies to influence the election.

Opposition concerns include:

  • The Acting Speaker’s affiliation as deputy chairperson of the JSP, raising impartiality questions.
  • The absence of a consensual national election prior to mandate expiries.
  • Potential erosion of Somalia’s federal system and worsening political fragmentation.

Opposition lawmakers warned that proceeding with the Speaker’s election under these conditions risks deepening divisions and undermining long-term state-building efforts. They urged restraint and called for a political agreement to restore institutional legitimacy before moving forward.

The Speaker position has been vacant since Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe) assumed the presidency of South West State. The election of a new Speaker is seen as pivotal for parliamentary functionality but remains mired in the broader electoral impasse.

As of Sunday evening, neither the federal government nor JSP leadership had publicly responded to the opposition’s objections. Meanwhile, the newly formed committee is preparing to advance the Speaker election despite the controversy.