(27-11-23) MOGADISHU – A group of Somali Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday established a caucus named Kutlada Toosinta (the rectification caucus), aimed at correcting governance issues and challenging proposed amendments to the draft constitution. During its inauguration at the Federal Parliament premises, the caucus voiced strong support for the Federal Government’s military actions against Al-Shabaab, while firmly opposing recent moves to limit the number of political parties and change the current political system.
The National Consultative Council, comprising various federal member states, recently proposed amendments to the federal constitution. These include reducing political parties to two and transitioning from a President-Prime Minister system to a President-Vice President model. Kutlada Toosinta’s members, expressing their dismay, have called for a national consensus before any constitutional amendments are made.
Professor Afyare Elmi of City University in Mogadishu cautioned against unilateral constitutional changes. In a tweet, he emphasised that the current political settlement, which took over a decade to establish, should not be hastily altered. He outlined the fundamental components of Somalia’s political framework, including Shariah as a legislative base, clan power-sharing, federalism, and a parliamentary system.
This announcement follows Puntland State of Somalia’s recent appeal to federal legislators, urging them not to support any illegal constitutional amendments. The formation of Kutlada Toosinta and the concerns raised by experts like Professor Elmi highlight a critical period in Somalia’s political landscape, with significant implications for the country’s future governance and constitutional stability.
Halqabsi News
