Friday March 3, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Lower House Parliament's First Deputy Speaker, MP Sadia Yasin Samatar, has appointed a ten-member committee to prepare a report on a motion signed by 100 lawmakers advocating for amendments and supplements to the constitution.
According to reports, the motion seeks to amend articles 60 and 91, which currently state that the President of the Federal Government of Somalia shall hold office for a term of four years, beginning on the day they take the oath of office.
The Chairman of Somalia's Senate said that his chamber would follow suit on Friday after accepting a proposal that 15 senators put forth.
Somalia's Special Presidential Envoy for Drought Climate and Member of Parliament, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, has stated that the parliament is expected to submit agendas on how to move the country out of indirect elections.
He added that this is not the time for parliament to consider an extension period and that they are aware of the problems and difficulties experienced for a long time.
Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's Himilo Qaran party has opposed the proposed extension of government agencies, including the Presidency and Parliament. The political party has stated that it opposes any extension and urges Federal Government leaders to uphold the law and refrain from any extension.
The former president has stated that the proposed amendment would allow for an increase in the parliamentary and presidential term limits from 4 to 5 years.
In 2021, the Lower House of Parliament voted to extend the mandate of former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and the federal government by two years to end a political stalemate over national elections.
However, opposition candidates, led by current President Mohamud and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, successfully pushed the parliament to abandon the mandate term extensions.
On Thursday, the Somali Cabinet Council approved a five-person committee tasked with the Independent Commission for the Review of the Federal Constitution.
Before it was approved, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs presented the committee to the Council, chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Barre.
"The newly nominated five-person committee has been approved by the cabinet of ministers for the Federal Government of Somalia and will soon go before the Federal Parliament for approval to pave the way for the completion of the Federal Constitution," the Ministry said in a statement.