Somalia: Senate speaker accuses government institutions of failing to uphold law

MOGADISHU, April 26 - The speaker of Somalia’s Upper House of parliament has accused the country’s government institutions of systemic lawlessness, ending a months-long political absence as the nation nears a high-stakes electoral deadline.

Senator Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, a veteran influential figure in Somali politics, said that his return to public life followed a period of recovery from health-related issues. His comeback coincides with a deepening standoff between federal leaders and opposition groups over constitutional changes and the framework for upcoming elections.

"The government must enforce the law, but we ourselves are the government, and yet we do not follow the law," Abdullahi said, casting a wide net of criticism over the failure of state organs to adhere to the country's legal statutes.

The speaker’s return is likely to complicate an already fractured political landscape. Abdullahi is known for his history of challenging executive authority; in 2021, he was a key figure in blocking a move by the previous administration to extend its term during a similar electoral impasse.

Somalia is currently grappling with a volatile political vacuum as the presidential term nears its end. Controversy has centered on a series of federal constitutional amendments that critics argue lack broad consensus and threaten the country's fragile federal system.

While Abdullahi did not immediately align himself with a specific political bloc, his vow to participate "regularly" in upcoming sessions suggests he intends to act as a significant weight in the debate over the country’s political direction.

The federal government has yet to issue a formal response to the speaker’s remarks.

GAROWE ONLINE