SOMALIA – The Somalia parliament on Wednesday approved the new National Constitution, making the end of the long-standing provisional constitution of 2012, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hailing it as a historic day.

“Today is a historic day, marked by the completion of Somalia’s National Constitution & the formal of the long-standing Provisional Constitution. It’s a day that will be remembered for achieving a national milestone that has long been awaited. This a promise made & kept,” Mohamud said.

He said completing the National Constitution removes a major obstacle to the country’s political, security and economic stability.

His remarks came hours after both houses of Somalia’s parliament voted to overhaul the national constitution, ending decades of transitional constitutional rule.

The vote has sparked strong criticism from opposition figures and two regional administrations – the southern state of Jubaland and the semiautonomous state of Puntland – which have been at odds with the central government for the past four years.

One of the main opposition leaders, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, said changing the constitution without consensus “is not reform, it is a gamble with national unity and stability.”