Mogadishu (PP Editorial) — The bicameral legislature of Somalia today passed procedural changes to discussing the amendment to the draft federal constitution proposed by the incumbent government at a time Ethiopia encroached upon the territorial integrity of Somalia.
Former Somali Presidents and Prime Ministers have called for the federal government not to push procedural changes for constitutional amendments through the two houses (the Upper House and the Lower House) controlled by Villa Somalia. What happened in Mogadishu today is far more threatening to the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia than the attempted term extension by the previous administration nearly three years ago.
Instead of repealing a defence pact being used by Ethiopia to justify the maritime Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland Administration, the bicameral legislature today passed procedural changes to debating amendments to the draft federal constitution.
With Somaliland administration claiming sovereignty based on territories its controls, and Puntland state of Somalia opposing unilateral amendments to the draft federal constitution one wonders how a controversial bill passed by the bicameral legislature can promote unity of national purpose at a time the Federal Government of Somalia seeks to avoid being held accountable for signing bilateral defence and intelligence sharing agreements that put the sovereignty of Somalia at risk.
In February 2023 at the UN Security Council Britain called for the Federal Government of Somalia “to produce credible governance models and to be sustainable. These efforts must also include the full, equal and meaningful participation of women to embed their inclusion into future political processes. We must underline the importance of all FMS leaders engaging constructively.” The Federal Government of Somalia bypassed the consultative procedure at the heart of any proposed amendments to the draft federal constitution. The executive control of the Somali bicameral legislature further diminishes the legitimacy of federal institutions and the prospects for maintaining the territorial unity of Somalia.
© Puntland Post, 2024
You must be logged in to post a comment.