(03-03-23) Mogadishu, Somalia – The special committee of the two Houses of the 11th Parliament met on Thursday to discuss the implementation of the extension period of the 11th Parliament and the President of the DFS. The meeting, which was held in Mogadishu, resulted in several decisions being made, some of which are likely to stir controversy.
Among the decisions made was the proposal that the term of office of the Government be extended to five years, starting from May 2022. This proposal will be presented to the Parliament within seven days in a joint session, where it will be discussed and debated.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mah’ed Guled was also appointed as the defender who will engage in discussions with the media and debates arising from their responses. Guled is expected to make a case for the extension of the term of office of the Government, and address concerns from the public and politicians.
The proposal to extend the term of the Government has received some backlash from members of both Houses of Parliament and other politicians who are campaigning against the move.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, The leader of the Himilo Party, a former president and current member of parliament, issued a statement on 20 February calling on the leaders of the Federal Government to uphold the law and refrain from trying to extend the period of the government.
It remains to be seen how the Parliament will react to the proposal and whether it will be accepted or rejected. The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for the country’s political landscape.
The meeting of the special committee of the two Houses of the 11th Parliament comes at a time when Somalia is grappling with various challenges, including insecurity, corruption, and economic hardships. The decision made by the committee will undoubtedly shape the country’s political future and determine how it navigates these challenges in the years to come.
