Presidential or Hybrid Presidential-Parliamentary System: Is President Hassan Sheikh Choosing Political Stability Over the Risk of Civil War?

[Deeq A.]

Upon independence in 1960, the Somali Republic adopted a parliamentary system of government with an executive prime minister and ceremonial president. The system worked well until the army forces led by Major General Siad Barre overthrew the government and replaced it with a dictatorial system of government which was ousted by rebels in 1991. When the TFG was formed in 2000, nonetheless, the parliamentary system of government was restored. That system of government is still in place and the current FGS has a prime minister and president. However, President Hassan Sh. Mohamoud has voiced his concern about this hybrid Parliamentary-Presidential system and expressed his desire to do away with the prime minister’s post and replace it with an executive president and vice president. In this short piece, I shall shed light on the pros and cons of this current hybrid system of presidential-parliamentary vis-à-vis presidential system in light of our recent history and experiences.

Source: Hiiraan Online