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MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – Somalia’s parliamentary session was suspended on Saturday after pro-government and opposition members could not agree on the agenda.
The House was expected to discuss COVID-19, but opposition members complained that the agenda also included a proposed term extension for President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, popularly known as Farmajo.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdurahman, suspended the meeting after members of the opposition interrupted his attempt to preside over the session.
The Somali parliament meeting ends in disarray after disagreement among MPs over the “intentions” behind a quickly organized session. MPs were told that Covid19 was the agenda, but some MPs argue that they feared the lower house could force a “unilateral” extension of the executive’s mandate. pic.twitter.com/l5lbXRR4FB
– Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) March 27, 2021
Opposition lawmakers claimed that the president and pro-government members of parliament planned to approve a term extension for the president’s administration, a claim denied by pro-government members, including Hani Mohamed Adan.
He said that some members of parliament tried to cause chaos in parliament, which was against standing orders. She said the president must take action against lawmakers who violated House rules.
The speaker subsequently issued a letter suspending 15 lawmakers from attending the next five sessions of parliament, according to government media. The lawmakers were accused of obstructing the parliamentary session scheduled for Saturday.
The Speaker of the Somali Parliament suspends 15 legislators from attending the next 5 sessions of the Lower House of Parliament. MPs rioted and obstructed Saturday’s Parliament session on Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/GiMo4dZABq
– SNTV News (@ sntvnews1) March 27, 2021
A suspended deputy said the speaker’s move violated House rules.
The terms of the parliament and the president have expired and the elections, once planned for February, have been delayed while the country’s leaders resolve differences over how to conduct the vote.
Sadik Warfa, a former cabinet minister and member of parliament, stressed the need to await the outcome of the electoral talks between federal and regional leaders in the capital, Mogadishu.
Warfa said they were warning against extensions of the government’s mandate by parliament and supported talks between leaders to resolve the electoral standoff.
Warfa added that they were confident in the prospect of transparent and peaceful elections in the country, underscoring the challenges faced by ordinary citizens in the Horn of Africa nation.
International partners, including the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, are pressuring Somalia to hold elections, reiterating this week their opposition to parallel electoral processes or term extensions for the incumbent government.
Harun Maruf of VOA contributed to this report.
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