Dr Ali Said Faqi: “The bicameral legislature has effectively rendered itself powerless”

Dr Ali Said Faqi: “This is a regrettable situation, especially in Somalia where accountability is virtually non-existent.”

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Dr. Ali S. Faqi, a Federal MP from South West State of Somalia, criticised amendments to Somalia’s provisional constitution motivated by a desire to address what proponents of the constitutional overhaul view as an abuse of representation privileges by parliamentarians and senators, a subtle reference to monetising MPs’ and Senators’ votes whenever Villa Somalia wants to dismiss a Prime Minister. This situation creates a vicious circle of No Confidence Motions against a Prime Minister who falls out with the President.

On 30 March 2024 the bicameral legislature of Somalia ratified 4 amendments to the provisional constitution into which President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has signed into law. Puntland State government, former Presidents and Prime Ministers denounced the amendments as unilateral and in violation of the established guidelines that stress bottom-up consensus and credible consultations with the civil society.

“This is a regrettable situation, especially in Somalia where accountability is virtually non-existent. As a result, Somali politics now finds itself in uncharted territory. The future role of the parliament remains uncertain, leaving us to ponder what lies ahead. Whether this change will ultimately benefit the country is uncertain, but one thing is undeniable: the parliament has effectively rendered itself powerless” tweeted Dr Faqi.

© Puntland Post, 2022