Somalia: Puntland Parliament Expels Former Speaker as Arrest Warrant Is Issued

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Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril, former Puntland House speaker addressing Las Anod forum - File

GAROWE, Somalia – Lawmakers in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Tuesday voted to expel former parliamentary speaker Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril, days after authorities issued an arrest warrant accusing him of threatening regional security.

During a session in the capital, Garowe, the Puntland House of Representatives voted 38 to 1, with four abstentions, to remove Jibril from his seat. 

Jibril, who recently returned from Mogadishu to the Sanaag region, has reportedly launched efforts aimed at undermining Puntland’s territorial unity by pushing to incorporate Sanaag into the SSC-Khaatumo administration as a conference opened in Las Anod city to discuss the finalization of the regional state formation.

On July 13, Puntland’s Attorney General issued an arrest warrant accusing Jibril of violating articles 221, 223, and 233 of the Somali Penal Code, relating to crimes against the state and public order.

Earlier that day, Jibril announced his resignation from the Puntland parliament during a political conference in Lasanod, where he expressed support for the SSC-Khaatumo movement, intensifying tensions in northern Somalia.

The Puntland government has accused Somalia’s federal authorities of interfering in the Sool and Sanaag regions by using politicians from those areas, including some cabinet members, to sow discord among local clans that could lead to a conflict.

GAROWE ONLINE

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