Somali President: Nation Moves Beyond Clan-Based Power Sharing

Mogadishu — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia has moved beyond the clan-based power-sharing system that has shaped the country's politics for decades. The president made the remarks at a ceremony marking the conclusion of the government's annual performance accountability process, where ministries presented their achievements in 2026, including progress in implementing government plans, meeting targets and fulfilling their responsibilities. Hassan said the country was moving toward a political system in which national institutions and citizens' participation would play a greater role than clan-based power-sharing. The president also awarded performance medals to the Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs after they ranked highest in this year's government assessment. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn The Office of the Prime Minister was also recognised for implementing a digital system to monitor the performance of government ministries. Hassan praised the government for its efforts to implement its programmes and improve public services, while stressing the importance of institutional accountability, transparency and regular assessments of government performance. He urged ministers and government agencies to use the results of the annual assessment as a basis for improving their performance and addressing areas where progress has been slow. The president said government plans should ultimately translate into tangible improvements that respond to the needs and interests of the Somali people. His comments on clan-based power-sharing come amid an ongoing political debate in Somalia over the country's electoral system and the transition toward direct elections. The government has promoted a one-person, one-vote system as part of its efforts to move away from the indirect clan-based electoral arrangements that have been used in previous elections. The transition has, however, faced political disagreements, with opposition groups and some federal member states raising concerns over the electoral process, constitutional changes and the timing of elections. Hassan said the government's focus should remain on strengthening state institutions, improving accountability and delivering services to citizens as Somalia seeks to build a more effective political and administrative system. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Read the original article on Shabelle . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.