Somalia: Senator Farole slams attempts of amending Puntland state Constitution

GAROWE, Puntland- Somali Federal Senator and former Puntland President, Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, highlighted about the controversial issues surfaced regarding the Federal and Puntland constitutions on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a new headquarters for Puntland's Ministry of Finance in Garowe, Senator Farole mentioned the ongoing process of reviewing the Somali Federal Constitution and rebuffed reports of attempting to amend Puntland Constitution.

Senator Farole referred to remarks made on Tuesday by caretaker Minister of Public works of Puntland state, Abdirashid Mohamed Hersi at a meeting held in Garowe, attended by some clan elders, aimed to push for expansion of Puntland state Parliament seats on tribal basis. The Senator said; “I heard his statement [Hersi] saying the constitution was changed many times, to pave the way for the establishment of new districts and regions. This was a lie, the constitution was never amended for this purpose,” said Senator Farole.  

“Prior to the adoption of this constitution, raising up the document itself, a Provisional Charter was in place for a number of years in Puntland. When the government forms a new district or a region, it is brought before the Parliament for endorsement, without the requirement of amending the constitution. It is a different matter to get from the Parliament the approval of new districts and regions, and amending the constitution for this end,” added Senator Farole.

Farole reminded the audience; “the base of power-sharing system in Puntland, has been based on regional formula from the onset in 1998.”  He added, while holding a copy of the Puntland state Constitution, “The election of the MPs of the state Parliament was always been based on constituencies [regions] and not tribal basis. This is Puntland constitution. It cannot be amended on tribal basis. It is written in Somali, why you don’t read it?”

Continuing, Senator Farole talked about a meeting held in Garowe, participated in by some clan elders and was opened by Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali "Gaas" on Tuesday. Farole indicated that “those clan leaders have nothing to do with amending the state Constitution; your role have ended. You have the role to endorse the selection of MPs who took the Legislative responsibility and elected a President, who in turn appointed Cabinet Ministers and then endorsed by the Parliament. Your [elders] role will come again after one year and half, wait for it, don’t lead the people to disarray.”

He called on the clan elders hailing from Mudug region who are lobbying to amend the constitution on tribal basis and increase the 66-seats of the state assembly, to rather agree among themselves on their regional quota if there are some communities are under-represented.

Farole highlighted that Puntland constitution can only be amended after population census is made and obviously new democratic approach is put in place, based on one-man one-vote, according to the Article 60 of which disallows the expansion of the current seats of the state Parliament without those conditions. 

The senator said he will travel soon to Mogadishu, to take part of the sessions of the Upper House of the Somali Federal Parliament.

GAROWEONLINE