MP Odowaa Resigns from Ruling Party, Exposes Deep Rift with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Somalia's political landscape was jolted by a profound political earthquake today as prominent Member of Parliament Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein (Odowaa) officially announced his resignation as Secretary-General and member of the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP). The bombshell decision exposes a long-simmering rift between the lawmaker and the party's chairman, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Odowaa, who has been one of the President's closest political allies and advisors for over a decade, attributed his departure to profound ideological and administrative differences. His exit is widely viewed as a devastating blow to the President's political camp at a time when the nation is already deeply polarized by constitutional disputes.

In a formal statement released to the press on March 25, 2026, MP Odowaa outlined five fundamental grievances that led to the collapse of their longstanding political alliance:

1. Monopolization of Power and Rejection of Counsel

The lawmaker accused the President of reducing both national and party governance to a one-man show. Odowaa stated that the President consistently ignored dissenting opinions, bypassed his own political team, and sidelined the advisory roles of established government institutions, choosing instead to consolidate all decision-making power within himself.

2. The Divisive Constitutional Overhaul

Odowaa revealed his futile attempts to dissuade the President from pursuing a unilateral approach to amending the national constitution. He argued that the administration's current trajectory is alienating the Somali public and deepening national divisions. The MP stressed the urgent need to correct clauses that threaten national unity, social solidarity, and the foundational principles of federalism.

3. Electoral Manipulation and Control

A major breaking point between the two leaders was the design of the national electoral model. According to Odowaa, the President insisted on engineering an electoral system specifically designed to allow him to control the outcome. Conversely, Odowaa advocated for a consensus-based model agreed upon by all political stakeholders, warning that imposing a contested system on a fragile nation risks sparking severe political violence and social collapse.

4. Dismantling Federal Member States

In one of his most severe allegations, Odowaa condemned what he described as the President's active policy of dismantling the country's Federal Member States. He defended the regional administrations as the critical second tier of the federal republic, arguing that they are a vital pillar for both the federal system and Somali social cohesion.

5. Suppression of Parliamentary Immunity and Travel Bans

The MP strongly protested the repeated travel restrictions imposed on Somali citizens and lawmakers. He specifically highlighted the blocking of national MPs, who hold constitutional immunity, from traveling freely. Odowaa described these actions as an unjustifiable legal violation, a direct assault on the independence of the national parliament, and an affront to human dignity.

Concluding his statement, MP Odowaa made it clear that he is pivoting toward a completely different political trajectory. He vowed to forge new alliances with political actors who share his commitment to Somali nationalism and the preservation of national unity.

This high-profile resignation comes as political tensions in Mogadishu reach a boiling point over the disputed constitutional amendments, a crisis that has already alienated several regional states from the federal government. Odowaa's departure is expected to significantly reshape the dynamics of the emerging opposition, potentially serving as a catalyst for a broader political realignment against the ruling party.