The federal parliament’s bicameral houses have been in recess since December, with lawmakers originally expected to resume on February 1, 2025.

However, parliamentary sources and opposition MPs told Kaab TV that the Speaker of the House is unable to commence the session due to an overwhelming impeachment motion against Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

According to sources within the Office of the Speaker of the Lower House (People’s House), Speaker Aden Mohamed Nur (Aden Madobe) is deeply concerned about the growing number of MPs supporting the impeachment motion, which could lead to instability if the parliament reconvenes.

“The Speaker is trying to resolve the matter before any session is opened. That is why the parliamentary session has been delayed,” said the source.

Opposition MPs, speaking anonymously, warned that over 200 MPs are prepared to take countermeasures if Speaker Madobe does not open the parliament or allow the impeachment motion to be discussed.

One possible course of action, according to the MPs, involves starting a parallel parliamentary session in a safer location within the country.

Such a move could set the stage for a parallel process ahead of the 2026 elections, as the current administration’s term is set to end in May 2026.

The MPs are accusing the Prime Minister and President of serious constitutional violations, corruption, and human rights abuses, and are demanding their removal from office.

Both Jubaland and Puntland have reportedly endorsed the impeachment motion.

A source at Villa Somalia, the President’s office, revealed that President Hassan Sheikh has been working to defuse the situation, possibly by negotiating the removal of the Prime Minister and bringing in a new candidate.

One potential successor is Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Doodishe, the former Minister of Internal Security, who is from the same Daarood clan as the current Prime Minister.

According to the 2012 Provisional Constitution of Somalia, the House of the People is required to hold two regular sessions each year, each lasting a minimum of four months.

In March 2024, the parliament amended the constitution to extend the parliamentary term from four to five years, effective from the current legislature that began in April 2022.

If parliamentary sessions are overdue, it may be due to extraordinary circumstances, including political instability, security concerns, or logistical challenges.

In such cases, the Speaker of the House of the People may call for an extraordinary session, or at least 20% of the members can request one in writing.

The post Somalia Parliamentary Session Overdue Amid Impeachment Motion Against President and PM appeared first on Kaab TV.

For months, their disagreements had remained hidden from the public, but by the week’s end, their feud had become impossible to contain.

At the center of their conflict were lucrative oil and gas exploration contracts, involving millions of dollars and foreign companies, including entities from Turkey.

President Mohamud accused Abdirisak of misappropriating funds from these deals, alleging that over $10 million received in 2022 and $8 million in 2023 were mishandled.

While Abdirisak did not deny the accusations, sources close to the president revealed that he had initially shared a portion of the proceeds with Mohamud but later began keeping the funds for himself – mostly in overseas bank accounts.

Efforts to mediate the crisis were spearheaded by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and other key figures, including Minister of Planning Mohamud Beene Beene.

Both sought a resolution that would preserve the relationship between the two men. However, President Mohamud was unyielding, insisting that Abdirisak, who is also a Member of Parliament from the Hiiraan region, be removed from his cabinet post as punishment for what he viewed as betrayal.

By early Sunday, President Mohamud instructed the prime minister to announce a cabinet reshuffle. By midday, Abdirisak’s dismissal was formalized, marking the end of his tenure as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

Mini reshuffle

The reshuffle brought significant changes. Abdirisak was replaced by Dahir Shire Mohamed, who now oversees the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

General Bashir Mohamed Jama (Goobe), who faced criticism during his time as Minister of Women and Human Rights, was reassigned as Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Meanwhile, Khadija Al-Makhsumi, a Member of Parliament and the wife of Abdikarin Hussein Guled, a close associate of president Mohamud, was appointed as Minister of Family and Human Rights.

Following his dismissal, Abdirisak issued a statement on social media, citing differences with the government over addressing grievances in Hiiraan and tensions with the HirShabelle administration.

“People may wonder why my dismissal occurred now, despite my close ties with the President. The decision stems from disagreements on resolving the longstanding grievances of the people of Hiiraan toward HirShabelle’s leadership,” he wrote.

Abdirisak also referenced unresolved disputes dating back to HirShabelle’s formation, including the designation of its capital and parliamentary representation.

The end of the political journey

Abdirisak’s political journey is closely tied to President Mohamud. A Somali-Canadian and a former taxi driver from Ottawa, Canada, he rose to prominence as one of Mohamud’s most trusted allies.

He first served in president Mohamud’s cabinet as Minister of Security during the 2012–2016 term.

Their relationship was not built on educational or professional connections but on familial ties—Abdirisak comes from the family of president Mohamud’s mother.

When Mohamud returned to office in May 2022, Abdirisak secured the petroleum ministry after reportedly promising to share the profits from oil and gas contracts with the president.

Allegations suggest that Mohamud’s first wife was also involved in managing these deals.

Now, with their alliance fractured and Abdirisak removed, questions linger over what will become of the millions of dollars allegedly lost.

In Somalia, corruption rarely leads to accountability. Instead, power dynamics shift, and the cycle continues.

For the new Minister of Petroleum, Dahir Shire Mohamed, the message is clear: any future funds must be fully surrendered to the president and his influential first lady.

As for Abdirisak, only time will tell whether this marks the end of his political career or merely a temporary setback.

For now, his fall from grace serves as another reminder of the pervasive corruption that continues to define Somali politics.

The post Hassan Sheikh Sacks Longtime Ally Abdirisak Omar Mohamed: Here’s Why appeared first on Kaab TV.