All parliamentary activities in Somalia have come to a complete standstill following a sharp internal dispute between some Members of Parliament and the top leadership of the House of the People.
Recent sessions have been cancelled due to growing tensions within Parliament. The disruption peaked last Saturday when chaos broke out during a scheduled sitting, forcing the session to be abruptly closed and MPs to disperse from the Villa Hargeysa Hall.
The meeting that was expected to resume on Monday was also called off, and yet again today, the session has been postponed. Reports indicate that the Speaker himself has suspended parliamentary sittings.
At the heart of the conflict is the controversial expulsion of MP Abdullahi Abiib. While the parliamentary leadership had already ousted him, some MPs challenged the decision as unlawful and filed a motion to reverse it. However, Speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe rejected the motion.
“When a motion is submitted, it must comply with the Constitution and the house rules. This one clearly does not—it cannot proceed,” said Speaker Madobe.
He went further: “If I allow this to go forward, I would be complicit in a crime. I will not accept that. MPs, stop the chaos.”
Meanwhile, some MPs blamed the Speaker for halting parliamentary business, accusing him of unilaterally shutting down sessions. They emphasized that they are ready to resume work and reopen parliamentary proceedings.
This gridlock comes at a critical time, as Parliament faces pressing national issues, particularly the development of an electoral framework. The last session concluded with key decisions regarding the upcoming elections and constitutional amendments—moves still contested by opposition members.
