Speaker Hashi rejects proposed representation of Banadir by Lower House

MOGADISHU | Banadir region may have to wait a little longer before knowing the fate of legislation proposing the creation of 13 seats in Upper House for its representatives following Tuesday's rejection of the proposal by Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi.

A fortnight ago, the Lower House under the stewardship of Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman approved 13 representatives for Banadir, the region which hosts the capital Mogadishu, in the Upper House, but the decision has since degenerated into a heated political debate.

Before the legislation was passed, regional leaders had requested for halting of the debate until a consensus is reached, but the Lower House went on to approve the bill. The regional leaders were hoping to solve the impasse during a meeting which had been called by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo but did not kick off on Sunday as planned.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hashi said Senators were unable to approve the bill into a "declaration", adding that it wasn't tabled in the House because it was "unconstitutional". The Senate speaker asked the National Independent Electoral Commission [NIEC] to reject electoral clauses passed by the Lower House.

The Senate boss insisted that a letter sent by his Lower House counterpart Mursal to the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs violated based "legislative processes" as stipulated in Chapter six of the provisional constitution of the federal republic of Somalia.

While defending Senate's role in the ratification of the laws, Hashi said the clauses passed by the Lower House remain "null and void", adding that the laws of the country including appreciation of Senate's role in the entire process "ought" to be respected.

Banadir region has never had representatives in the Upper House, which has been a preserve for the five federal states. They include Puntland, Jubaland, Southwest, HirShabelle and Galmadug.

After the approval by the Lower House, Mogadishu Mayor Omar Finish who also doubles as Banadir governor, termed the move as a "new Dawn" to the people of Mogadishu, adding that the move by the MPs was a "long-awaited achievement".

"The law-abiding and peace-loving people of Benadir are the largest taxpayers and contributors of state-building and peacebuilding efforts in Somalia. Well done," added the Mayor, who took over last year after the assassination of his predecessor, Abdirahman Omar Osman.

The Senate's statement comes barely two days before the beginning of a consultative forum which will bring together state leaders in Dhusamareb, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug, from this Thursday. The federal government has not confirmed its intentions to attend.

Although the meeting was supposed to take place on Sunday in Mogadishu, Farmajo cancelled indefinitely, arguing that it will be called "at the appropriate time". Among others, the meeting was set to solve the impasse bedevilling the country, specifically the date and model for the upcoming elections.

Further, the contentious representation of Banadir region and Somaliland along with the 30 per cent quota for women representation in Parliament were to be ironed out. Ironically, the Lower House had passed the legislation without waiting for the much-needed consensus.

The Forum for National Parties [FNP], a conglomeration of six opposition parties, welcomed the decision by federal states to hold a meeting to discuss some of the challenges Somalia is facing. In a statement issued on Tuesday, FNP accused FGS of showing "negative phenomena", adding that the decision to postpone Mogadishu meeting was a manifestation of "leadership failure".

NIEC has already ruled out holding elections this year, a move which would lead to automatic term extension for the current administration, whose tenure ends in October. The Commission, which has been subjected to criticism, noted that the Horn of Africa nation would be ready to hold elections in March next year.

GAROWE ONLINE 

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