(10-05-23) MOGADISHU –The Federal Parliament of Somalia, set to reconvene on May 18 after a recess, is already witnessing a strong uproar over the controversial security agreement signed between the federal government of Somalia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February. Many Members of Parliament (MPs) are demanding the swift presentation of the agreement and have described it as illegal.
MP Abdullahi Aden Kulane has issued a statement criticizing the government’s decision to implement the agreement without the Parliament’s approval, arguing that this move has inflicted significant damage on the government. Kulane emphasized the need for the executive branch to present the agreement to Parliament for review and debate.
“The errors contained in the agreement that harm the sovereignty of the country must be addressed. Parliament should be given its role, and the balance of government agencies should not be lost in view of the country’s interest,” said Kulane.
Kulane also stressed the importance of preserving Somalia’s independence and urged fellow MPs to fulfil their responsibility of monitoring other government institutions. He called on the leadership of the Parliament to hold the executive branch accountable and force them to bring agreements made with foreign governments to the Parliament.
“We must not allow the leadership of the Parliament to become toothless, and ensure that the executive branch is forced to bring the agreements with foreign countries to the Parliament,” he added.
The security agreement with the UAE initially sparked controversy before subsiding for some time. However, it is now evident that the issue has resurfaced, creating a significant uproar in the Somali Parliament. As the reopening of the Parliament draws near, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the mounting pressure from MPs to address the concerns surrounding the contentious security agreement.
© Halqabsi News
