Somalia amends the constitution and switches to a presidential system. Parliament approved these amendments, today, Saturday, with the approval of 254 votes out of 275 members of the People’s Assembly.
The amendments stipulate that the country's president will be elected directly by the people instead of parliament, and the presidential term will be 5 years instead of 4. The constitutional amendments were met with opposition as they grant broad powers to President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, which may pave the way for his re-election.