Somalia’s constitutional review process has been quiet in recent months, with no major developments since the activity earlier in 2025. For lawyers who advise clients on government contracts, property rights, or federal-regional matters, this pause is actually a good time to prepare for what will inevitably come next. The 2026 presidential election is approaching, and constitutional questions always heat up around elections.

The most notable recent development came in May 2025, when the Somali Justice Society raised concerns about how the government was establishing the National Human Rights Commission. Their argument was procedural but important: they said the President should not create such an institution by instruction alone, and that the proper process requires parliamentary involvement. This kind of dispute, about where executive authority ends and parliamentary authority begins, comes up regularly in transitional legal systems, and lawyers advising clients on government matters need to watch these boundaries closely. A contract or license that seems valid today could be challenged tomorrow if courts decide the issuing authority exceeded its powers.

What Was Discussed Earlier This Year

An interregional conference in August 2025 examined possible changes to Chapters 10 through 15 of the Provisional Constitution. These chapters deal with the practical machinery of government: how security forces are organized, how the civil service operates, and how public finances are managed. For lawyers, changes to these provisions would directly affect administrative law practice, government contracting, and public procurement work. If you represent clients who do business with federal or state governments, understanding the direction of these reforms matters for the advice you give about risk and compliance.

The broader context is worth remembering. The Provisional Constitution was adopted in 2012, and we are now more than twelve years into what was supposed to be a transitional period. The constitution is still not finalized, and key provisions remain subject to revision. This creates a particular kind of uncertainty for legal practice. Property rights, contract enforcement, and jurisdictional disputes all depend on constitutional rules that may change. Good legal opinions in Somalia should acknowledge this uncertainty rather than pretending it does not exist.

Looking Ahead

The UNDP Justice Sector Strategy for 2025-2029 identifies completing the constitutional process as a priority, which suggests we should expect more activity in the coming year. The quiet period will probably end as the election approaches and political actors begin positioning themselves. For lawyers, the practical advice is straightforward: read the proposed amendments to Chapters 10-15 if you have not already, think about how your current client advice might need to change if certain reforms pass, and keep following the federal-regional disputes that continue to simmer, particularly with Puntland and Jubaland. The pause gives us time to prepare, and we should use it.