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.

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.