Parliamentary session called off after int'l partners' pressure

Visits: 1353
(Rating 0.0/5 Stars) Total Votes: 0
0 0
Share via Social Media

Parliamentary session called off after int'l partners' pressure

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Somali parliament session scheduled for Monday was postponed after international community pressed the parliament leadership to do so.

Share

Photo of the parliament meeting. Photo: KNN

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Somali parliament session scheduled for Monday was postponed after international community pressed the parliament leadership to do so.

In a memo sent to the lawmakers seen by Horn Observer, notified the legislators that Monday’s planned session of the Lower House of Parliament delayed until March 31.

According to sources privy to cancellation of the sitting said international missions in Somali capital demanded the postponement of the session, in a bid to avert possible confrontation between opposition and pro-government MPs.

The international community also reportedly asked for more days to buy time for the ongoing talks between the leaders of the country five regional states which entered its third day.

Last Saturday, the parliament session was adjourned after lawmakers, who are allied to the opposition reportedly caused ‘disturbed’ proceedings forcing the House to adjourn.

The lawmakers shouted down the speaker at the onset of proceedings claiming the session was aimed at casting a vote on term extension for President Mohamed Farmaajo.

The MPs dismissed suspension, vowing vowed have separate session.

"We do not believe that the speaker power to execute the suspension because the mandate of the parliament lapsed. We will keep on our demands to hold elections in the country," Abdirashid Mohamed Hiding, a lawmaker suspended from the upcoming house sessions told BBC Somali Service.

The mandate of the parliament and the president lapsed in last December and February of this year respectively but elections failed to take place as the political stakeholders differed on the electoral process.

UN, AU, EU and other international partners repeatedly called for talks between FGS-FMS leaders to iron out the political deadlock.