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.

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Reports indicate that a significant number of lawmakers, currently gathered in Nairobi, have begun drafting the motion, which they plan to introduce during the sixth parliamentary session set to commence in February.

The motion also cites allegations of government corruption, embezzlement of international aid, and the escalation of deadly conflicts, including the resurgence of Al-Shabaab.

Support for the motion is reportedly growing, with both opposition MPs and some members previously aligned with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration joining the effort.

Prime Minister Hamza is accused of neglecting his duties, which critics say has led to an ineffective government.

He is also alleged to have instigated tensions in Jubbaland, resulting in damage to the region’s stability and undermining the National Army’s reputation.

The motion is reportedly spearheaded by MPs from Jubbaland, who claim that the Prime Minister has been complicit in weakening the Jubbaland administration, which he ostensibly represents in the federal government.

In response, the Somali Presidency has launched counter-efforts to block the motion.

Villa Somalia is said to have contacted the Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Madobe, urging him not to allow any motion without their endorsement to be tabled in Parliament.

This is not the first time opposition groups have attempted to push for impeachment against both President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza.

Critics have accused Speaker Adan Madobe of obstructing such motions in the past.

As Prime Minister Hamza enters his third year in office, his survival of this motion could potentially make him the longest-serving Prime Minister in Somalia’s history.

The post Somali MPs Push No-Confidence Motion Against PM Hamza Barre appeared first on Kaab TV.

Upon assuming office as President of Somalia last year, Hassan Sheikh declared his desire to achieve peace within the country and with the international community. However, it quickly became apparent that his manner of managing government affairs would not lead to a peaceful Somalia. Specifically, he focused his administration on his party, neglecting the presidential candidates who had helped him  secure victory.

This situation was compounded by the conflict that arose between President Said Abdulahi Deni and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, with some accusing the latter of reneging on the deal made during the presidential election and others attributing it to constitutional differences.

The conflict between the two presidents escalated after President Hassan spoke from the Villa Somalia Masjid, where he predicted that Puntland might cease to exist after 24 days if President Deni did not heed the people’s desire. He also suggested that after 24 years of Puntland’s existence, it would not be fair for that to happen. President Hassan attempted to drive a wedge between the people of Puntland and their government by asserting that the leadership was the issue, not the people themselves. He warned President Deni that his plan to extend his rule would not succeed.

Constitutional dispute

Many Puntlanders perceived President Hassan’s speech as interference in their internal affairs, while supporters of President Deni viewed it as a threat. President Hassan implied that he possessed knowledge that was unknown to most Puntlanders. There is a constitutional dispute between President Deni and the opposition, who alleged that he sought to extend his rule.

However, President Deni did not publicly address these accusations. It would have been appropriate for him to clarify his position, but instead, Puntlanders were left unaware of his intentions. There was no other known issue standing in the way of upcoming election.

However, the impasse between the two presidents necessitated the intervention of Prime Minister Hamza Ali Barre, who had an ideal opportunity to resolve the conflict. There was no known animosity between him and the President of Puntland. As the executive of the Somali government, it was in his interests for Puntland to be on the discussion table. The prime minister himself recognized the importance of Puntland. Even if President Deni refused to engage with him, the Prime Minister could have leveraged other channels, including traditional elders, to reach out to President Deni. By listening to Puntland’s concerns and seeking a feasible solution, he could have played a pivotal role in resolving the crisis.

‘Rhetoric only inflamed the situation’

Instead, the prime minister held a similar view to that of President Hassan regarding the Puntland issue. Two days after President Hassan’s speech, the prime minister repeated his sentiments, stating that the Puntland people did not deserve their leaders and that the Somali government would not allow one sole individual to destroy Puntland. He also mentioned that Puntland did not participate in the last two meetings that should have addressed Somali debt relief, and said that if the relief effort failed, it would be Puntland state’s responsibility, not his government’s. However, this rhetoric only inflamed the situation and did not facilitate any progress towards resolving the issue.

The Prime Minister’s primary objective should be to ensure that Puntland makes progress in its upcoming election and that Somalia’s five billion dollar debt is relieved. However, his statements only pushed Puntland further into a corner, negatively affecting the prospects of Somali debt relief, an initiative that he had previously deemed crucial for the development of both Puntland and the rest of Somalia. Additionally, if anything happens to the upcoming election, the President and Prime Minister would be held responsible.

Given the current situation between the parties, the first step in finding a solution would be to cease communicating via social media. The Somali people expected the federal government to move forward from the point at which it assumed power. Therefore, the federal government should engage the Puntland state through means that do not involve interference in its internal affairs. Puntlanders should be allowed to solve their internal issues without external influence. Rather than engaging in finger-pointing, the federal state should also address Puntland’s concerns that the government’s actions are not based on the federal constitution.

To resolve its conflict with Puntland and to achieve peace and stability in Somalia, it is essential for the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with Puntland. The Prime Minister’s recent remarks have only added to the already complex situation and stalled any progress towards resolving the issue. It is time for all parties involved to prioritize peace and stability in Somalia.

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Mohamed Abdiqafar Haji Hussein is an independent writer and analyst based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He can be reached at Email: mohabdhus@gmail.com

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Kaab TV or its editors.

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