Somalia MPs protest closure of Parliament

[Freedom]

Somalia MPs have protested the country’s Ministry of Interior’s move to ban parliamentary sessions for four weeks.

 

They have threatened to summon Minister Abdisamad Mo’alin Mohamud before Parliament to explain the move.

 

MP Awad Ahmed Ashareh said lawmakers would demand the removal of Mr Mohamud and the Police Commissioner for locking Parliament.

 

The Interior Ministry blocked parliamentary sessions on Friday in Mogadishu, days after Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden was controversially replaced by MPs.

 

In a press conference held in Garowe, Puntland, Mr Mohamud said he was unhappy with the infighting over the ouster of the Speaker.

 

But addressing journalists in Nairobi on Friday, Somalia MPs condemned the minister’s move, terming it illegal, unwarranted and against Somalia’s Federal Charter.

 

Mr Ashareh, who is the Information, Public Awareness, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman, told journalists at the Laico Regency Hotel that the minister ought to understand separation of powers between the Executive and Parliament.

 

Different roles

 

“The Executive and Parliament have different roles. Only the Speaker can close Parliament. This illegal move would only cause confusion in the crisis-hit country,” he said.

 

On Thursday, Somalia Transitional Federal Parliament’s 27-member standing committee agreed that a panel to elect the Speaker provides the names of interested candidates on Saturday.

 

The team added that the election of the Speaker be held within 20 days and that the country’s Prime Minister gives a roadmap for peace and stability in the country.

 

Meanwhile, senior officers serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) are being trained on international humanitarian law by the United Nations. Amisom soldiers are also learning about Somali culture.

 

“Minimising harm to civilians, being sensitive to the customary practices of Somalis and respecting international humanitarian law is central to what we do,” said Maj-Gen Fred Mugisha, the force commander.

[Duufaan]

this was expected. Pro demoqratic UN is closing somali parlament.