Somalia: House Finance committee restructured after standoff

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The parliamentary committee of finance, budget and planning of Somalia's Federal Parliament has elected new leadership on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

MP Mohamud Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji was chosen as the new chair of the embattled committee while Amina Sheikh Osman becomes his deputy. Meanwhile, Aden Ali appointed as new secretary general.

Siraji is the younger brother of the slain former Public Works Minister, Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji who was shot dead near Somali Presidential Palace in Mogadishu in May last year by a government soldier.

The move came after the speaker of the House of the People, Mohamed Mursal has reshuffled the committee, remove vocal critics of the government, including the Secretary, Abdullahi Mohamed Nur.

But, the new leadership is said to be lawmakers close to the Executive branch.

The speaker instructed the restructured committee to cooperate with the Ministry of Finance to submit the 2019 budget to the parliament on 30th December, before the end of this year for approval.

The swift reshuffle ends the standoff between the country's top leaders who have reached an agreement last week the report sparked division and gridlock within the parliament that paralyzed the House's work.

Last November, the committee was disbanded by the deputy speaker, Abdiweli Mudey just days after publishing a bombshell report accusing Finance Ministry and Benadir regional admin of huge corruption.

In the report, the committee disclosed that $42 missed from the budget, including $20 million which was part of $50 million budgetary support from Saudi Arabia in 2017 and all was not accounted for.

Somali lawmakers dropped days ago an impeachment motion against President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo after blaming him for signing secret deals with Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as abuse of power.

GAROWE ONLINE