MOGADISHU (SD)- The Ministries of Religious Affairs of the Federal Member States of Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West, and Northeast have today jointly issued a press statement announcing their complete suspension of collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Islamic Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia.

The statement, jointly released by the four Ministries of the Federal Member States, indicated that this decision comes following a protracted dispute related to the approach to cooperation, consultation, and coordination on religious and endowment matters between the federal member states and the federal government.

The statement from these Ministries accused the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and Islamic Affairs of violating the principle of federalism and disregarding the role and autonomy of the federal member states as enshrined in the country’s provisional constitution.

The Ministries signing the suspension decision stated that on their part, they will no longer participate in any activities related to religious occasions or decisions on endowment and religious affairs unless there is full consultation and approval. However, they will continue providing religious services to their communities.

Finally, there has been no statement thus far from the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and Islamic Affairs of Somalia regarding this joint press release issued by the four federal member states. A response is expected in the coming hours.

The severing of ties in religious affairs is profoundly dangerous. In Somalia, Islam is a unifying national identity that transcends clan and political divisions. For federal states to break cooperation on this front signals that the federal dispute has eroded the most fundamental layers of national cohesion. It’s not just about politics or resources anymore; it’s about the shared spiritual and social fabric of the nation.

This move represents a new front in the ongoing battle over jurisdiction and autonomy. Religious affairs, including management of mosques, religious education (Awqaf), and public celebrations, are powerful tools for social control and legitimacy.

The severing of religious cooperation is a canary in the coal mine for the Somali state. It indicates that political disputes have degraded trust to a point where even the domain of shared faith is now contested. This is no longer a struggle over power-sharing formulas; it is a sign of accelerating national disintegration. The federal government’s response will be critical. A heavy-handed reaction could further alienate the states and the public.

The international community, which has heavily invested in a unified Somalia, must recognize that its core model of a centralized federal state is facing an existential challenge not just from Somaliland reclaiming its independence, but from the internal collapse of the federal compact itself. The battle for Somalia’s soul has begun, and it is being fought from the pulpit.