Hiiraan Online
Saturday April 6, 2019
Mogadishu (HOL) - A parliamentary session focused on the deteriorating security situation in Mogadishu was abruptly halted on Saturday as confusion gripped the halls of the legislature.
The Minister of Internal Security, the Defense Minister, the police commissioner, the commander of the SNA and the intelligence chief were asked to appear before Parliament to face questions on the uptick in violent attacks perpetrated by Al-Shabaab in the capital. All but Fahad Yasin, the acting head of Somalia's Intelligence Agency were present in parliament.
However, it appears that the session was shut down after a section of MPs objected to the meeting being off the record and removing journalists from the hall. The MPs argued that the citizens of Somalia have the right to know what their representatives are discussing with the security chiefs.
The rise in violence has led members of parliament to demand that security issue be tabled on the upcoming house agenda.
A vocal group of visibly muddled MPs approached Mohamed Mursal Sheikh, the Speaker of Parliament, to ask why the scheduled session will not proceed.
Members of Somalia's security apparatus arrived in Parliament on Saturday to face questions on the deteriorating security situation. Missing from this photo is Fahad Yasin, the intelligence chief and close confidant of President Farmajo.
The meeting comes a day after the cabinet met in the Prime Minister's office to discuss what can be done to mend the worsening security situation.
Mogadishu witnessed one of the bloodiest weeks of violence in late March with seven attacks in as many days. The terror attacks by Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab left 36 people dead and scores more injured. The majority of those killed were civilians.
Government and security officials have vowed to meet the militants with force and declared a state of emergency in an attempt to flush out Al-Shabaab fighters in the capital.
President Farmajo has asked citizens living in areas with an Al-Shabaab presence to tolerate efforts by security forces to conduct their security operation.
