Somalia postpones constitution review meeting after boycott

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The 'much-awaited' national consultative conference on the constitution review scheduled to kick off in Mogadishu on Sunday, 8th Oct has been postponed, Garowe Online reports.

The delay came after boycotts from the Joint Parliamentary oversight Committee (CRC), the Country's Constitutional Review & Implementation Commission and the majority of Federal Member States.

They have accused the Federal Ministry of constitutional affairs of hijacking process.

Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu on Saturday, Oct 7, the head of CRC, Abdi Hassan Awale "Qeybdid"  blamed the Ministry of Constitution for power abuse and not following proper procedures.

Awale said, the Ministry has hijacked the role of the CRC, the Independent constitutional commission, and the states in the national constitutional review process and holding meeting without consultation.

"The convention was organized without proper consultations and it was aimed at disturbing the national consultations on the constitution review process," the CRC said in a statement on Saturday.

According to the communiqué, obtained by GO, the CRC warned the International donors of funding the national consultations on the controversial constitution review by the Federal Ministry of the constitution.

Similarly, the regional States of Somalia, namely Southwest, Puntland, Galmudug and Jubbaland rejected the partaking of the failed two-day conference, in protest of the Constitutional Ministry's power abuse.

Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu, Abdi Hassan Awale "Qeybdiid", the chairman of joint Parliamentary Constitutional Oversight body called on donors not to fund the constitutional review plan.

Since taking office in March 2017 the Constitution Minister, Abdi Hosh Jibril, has been making efforts to hijack the review process of the Constitution, however, he was blamed for misleading the public, detailing the Constitutional process and Corruption.

Meanwhile, the Federal Minister of Information, Eng Abdirahman Yarisow has announced that the convention was delayed, citing 'technical problems'. He has not set a new date for the meeting.

On Sunday, Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire met with the member of CRC members at the Senate house in the capital, Mogadishu, to discuss the growing constitutional review process dilemma.

GAROWE ONLINE