Somalia’s parliament holds session after 15 MPs suspended

Hundreds of police and intelligence personnel have been deployed on the major roads leading to the presidential palace early in the morning to deny the opposition lawmakers entry to the parliament house.

News Keydmedia Online
31 March 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The outgoing Somali parliament held a session Wednesday morning amid tight security and the heavy presence of troops on streets that prevented opposition MPs from attendance.

The use of the national army against the opposition by Farmajo drew a wider condemnation from home and abroad as it risks the fledgling democracy and turning the country into a military-led country.

Hundreds of police and intelligence personnel have been deployed on the major roads leading to the presidential palace early in the morning to deny the opposition lawmakers entry to the parliament house.

The pro-Farmajo MPs endorsed Ahmed Zeylici Muse and Mohamed Osman Abdullahi Hamza to join the border team in a hand-show voting exercise that saw the support of 136 members while 3 abstained.

There was no single MP that rejected the endorsement that followed the debate of the refugee act and the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Today’s meeting was delayed twice due to the deep division in the house.

Opposition parties hit out at the Lower House speaker Mohamed Mursal over the suspension of the 15 MPs and described the Villa Somalia plotted move as an attempt to extend the term of the sitting leader.

The legislators have been accused of creating chaos in parliament during Saturday's meeting allegedly aimed at passing an extension term motion unexpectedly. 

Somalia found itself in the middle of an electoral crisis after the current president failed to lead the nation to a peaceful and timely election to pick his successor and a new federal parliament.

KEYDMEDIA English