MPs Cry Impeachment, but Settle for a Meek Resolution

[Jacaylbaro]

Hargeisa(Observer): The Seventhsession of the House of Representatives officially began on 20 July 2008. For the first three days, only a few members of parliament (MP) bothered to show up and the leaders, all members of the opposition political parties, were visibly worried that no one may come at all. However, they finally did, but rather than follow the agenda prepared by their leadership, MPs from the opposition political parties of UCID and Kulmiye demanded, as in the last two sessions, that this session also begin by taking stock of the state of the nation. They were particularly irked that urgent matters, such as the contentious issue of livestock trade, inflation and the impending disaster of this year’s drought were not included on the agenda. The leadership consented.

 

Then it was déjà vu all over again. Firebrand opposition MPs immediately launched a now familiar debate. The President, they claim, has repeatedly betrayed the constitution. This time the administration’s agreement to give a Saudi livestock trader monopoly on the export of sheep and goats was the culprit. Somaliland constitution forbids monopoly and these MPs are crying foul. In the first real sitting of the new session, they put forward an argument that if the President does not rescind this agreement, he must be impeached. Immediately pro-government MPs went up in arms and labeled any talk of impeachment premature and ill advised.

 

Talk of impeachment has doomed earlier sessions. Other MPs, including UCID members Hon. Ibrahim Mahdi Buuba and Hon. Nasir Haji Ali quickly moved that the House should first seek to understand the issues and suggested that competent members of the administration and other stakeholders be called for hearings. UDUB members disingenuously suggested that the House must first examine the agreement between Al-Jabiri, the Saudi trader and the government. The administration has never produced agreements it concluded with international companies or itinerant wheeler-dealers and there is no indication it was willing to produce the Al-Jabiri agreement to the nation or even to the legislature

 

At the end of a short-lived brouhaha, the House passed a resolution affirming free market as the basis of Somaliland’s economy and requesting that competent executive branch authorities from the ministries of Livestock and Commerce show up for formal hearings and that the agreement with Al-Jabiri be submitted to the National Assembly. The effect of these resolutions and if at all they are binding is not clear. This outcome was not negotiated with the administration and there is every reason to suspect that the President will ignore it as he has done many times before.

 

The House of Representatives is proving once again that it is impotent, that the legislature sadly has no leverage against the executive branch and given this impotence has no recourse but to cry impeachment. However, talk of impeachment without serious deliberation may mar Somaliland’s reputation and as in the past, Somaliland detractors have already latched on the proceedings of the House of Representatives, trying to bite on this tiny morsel of disagreement as a sign that the sky is falling on Somaliland.

[Ibtisam]

^^^Maada qorey??

 

The livestock sector is in urgent need for regulation and reform.

[Jacaylbaro]

No ,, i didn't write it.

[Ibtisam]

~Well source it then, I want to know who wrote it, for what purpose etc...

[Jacaylbaro]

SOURCE

[jamaal7777]

I have to say that Somaliland has probably a worse enemny in the president than from any other place if he were to keep on tresspassing on the constitution and undermine transparency.

 

If Somaliland is to be a precedent for the rest of the Somalis, then he has to get his acts together and work for his citizens and bring thrust back into Somali politics.

 

Somali saying goes "Waxii la qariyaa qurunbaa kujira"

[LANDER]

JB what is your take on the deal with the billionaire

[Jacaylbaro]

Well, generally i don't like those giant-belly Arabs markaa the government should seek another investor.

 

Second, I totally support the agreement. It is for the good of the government as well as the people. No one has to travel all the way to Yemen or Saudi Arabia to sell his livestock. All they want to do is to bring it to Berbera and get $ 42 per head then go home. Should they have to travel to SA to sell it $ 45 per head then with the risk of loosing it in the middle of the sea ???

 

The government is lacking some communication skills to explain this to the public.

 

 

Jamaal, don't worry sxb. We have been like this since 1991 and it is all talk. I don't think ppl oppose Rayaale more than they did to Egal.