(06-07-24) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – In a powerful display of dissent, Somali opposition Members of Parliament held a press conference in Mogadishu to mark the opening of their 5th parliamentary session. They launched a scathing critique of the Somali government, denouncing its alleged inaction, mismanagement, and lack of accountability.
Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, a leading opposition MP, delivered a forceful press statement on behalf of his colleagues. He stressed the urgency of establishing a clear separation of powers between the parliament and the government. “After numerous discussions, many MPs from both houses of the Federal Parliament of Somalia have concluded that it’s time to rectify the damaging merger that has plagued the executive and legislative branches,” Moalimuu declared. “The parliament has failed to comprehend its fundamental duty of holding the government accountable.”
Moalimuu outlined a series of grave concerns regarding the government’s performance. He accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of gross mismanagement and the signing of unlawful international agreements. “The executive branch has misdirected our foreign policy, and the government has entered into international agreements that blatantly violate the law,” he asserted.
The MP also condemned the government’s handling of the armed forces, highlighting the destruction of military resources and the loss of valiant officers. “The armed forces have been decimated, and brave officers have been sacrificed in the fight against the enemy, as all Somalis have witnessed,” Moalimuu lamented.
Corruption within government institutions was another major point of contention. Moalimuu alleged that corruption has spiralled out of control, with private companies seizing government services without transparency or accountability.”Corruption in government institutions has reached alarming levels, with the creation of private companies that operate in an opaque manner,” he stated. “These services are now being controlled by private individuals, often in collusion with the country’s leaders.”
In a final rebuke, the opposition MPs lambasted Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s government for its failure to deliver on the commitments it made to the Somali Parliament two years ago. “The stagnant government of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has utterly failed to implement the promises and plans they presented to the Somali Parliament,” Moalimuu proclaimed.
The opposition’s resolute demands for accountability and transparency underscore a deepening rift within Somalia’s political landscape as the 5th parliamentary session commences. Their vocal criticisms and calls for reform signal a determination to hold the government to account and ensure more effective and responsive leadership for the Somali people.
Halqabsi News
