MOGADISHU (GG) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially inaugurated the eighth session of the Federal Parliament of Somalia during a joint legislative assembly in the capital on Saturday.
The opening ceremony took place at the Villa Hargeisa complex inside the presidential precinct, drawing lawmakers from both the House of the People and the Upper House. Addressing the joint houses, President Hassan Sheikh delivered a comprehensive policy speech outlining national priorities, administrative milestones, and ongoing security objectives for the Horn of Africa nation.
The president commended the leadership and members of both legislative chambers for their legislative performance during previous terms. He highlighted their contribution to national state-building, state accountability frameworks, the ratification of critical statutory bills, and the promotion of civic interests across the country’s federal member states.
Turning to domestic security, the head of state provided an update on the ongoing military campaigns against the insurgent group Al-Shabaab, referred to officially by the government as the Khawarij. He asserted that the Somali National Army, operating alongside local clan militias and international security partners, has secured substantial territorial gains and disrupted militant infrastructure in several central and southern provinces.
President Hassan Sheikh also detailed the federal government’s political roadmap, emphasizing institutional commitment to the country’s democratization process. He reaffirmed the administration’s stated objective to move away from the traditional indirect clan-based voting system toward direct universal suffrage, which he described as essential for authentic civic representation and inclusive governance.
The parliamentary session opens amid complex regional dynamics and broader discussions regarding constitutional implementation timelines and federal-state integration. Lawmakers are scheduled to review several pending national bills, economic reforms, and security protocols in the coming working sessions.
