Executive Summary:
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has assured the National Consultative Proposals, aimed to change the governance system from parliamentary to presidential, will be subjected to Lower House voting. In Puntland, the UN Special Representative lauded the ‘one person, one vote’ elections, describing them as a significant step towards democracy. Hirshabelle President, Ali Abdullahi Hussein (Guudlaawe), has appointed Mahamud Wabar Hassan as the Minister of Interior and Federal Affairs. Meanwhile, the Speaker of Somaliland’s Parliament, Abdrisak Khalif Ahmed, resigned over the ongoing conflict in Las Anod. Security-wise, additional Kenyan and Ethiopian troops are expected to aid the counter-offensive against al-Shabaab, according to MoD Spokesperson Abdullahi Ali Anod. Lastly, Unidentified militias have looted Somalia’s embassy in Sudan, amidst increasing instability in Sudan.
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POLITICS
Highlights of the week:
- PM says all NCC proposals are subject to Lower House approval
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has downplayed concerns that the Federal Government will push through implementation of the proposed change of governance system in Somalia. He said the proposals will be subject to voting in the Lower House, which has veto power on such legislation. The Council of Ministers has approved the National Consultative Proposals that would change the hybrid parliamentary system to a presidential model. Barre has instructed the cabinet to prepare legislation that would enable lawmakers to approve the proposal.
- UN Special Representative hails ‘one person, one vote’ Puntland elections
The new UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing, has visited Puntland, meeting the region’s leadership and praising recent elections. In a joint media appearance with Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni, Laing said, “Today we’ve been discussing a number of topics, the most important of which was the very successful local elections held here in 30 districts on the 25th of May – I extended my congratulations as this is a major step forward in Puntland’s march towards democracy, and it also showcases a way forward for other parts of Somalia,”. She added “I hope the remaining three districts can complete their local elections, including here in Garowe”. Deni and Laing also met for discussions on a range of issues, along with members of Puntland’s cabinet. They reportedly discussed Puntland’s recent humanitarian activities and federal affairs.
- Hirshabelle President appoints new Minister of Interior
Hirshabelle President, Ali Abdullahi Hussein (Guudlaawe), appointed Mahamud Wabar Hasan as the Minister of Interior and Federal Affairs and named Abdifitah Abduqaadir Addow as the Deputy Minister of Interior.
- Somaliland parliament speaker resigns over Las Anod conflict
Speaker of Somaliland’s parliament, Abdrisak Khalif Ahmed, announced his resignation on Sunday 11 June, citing Somaliland’s response to the ongoing Las Anod conflict. Khalif simultaneously renounced his parliament seat and membership in the Waddani opposition party. His resignation followed Somaliland’s Attorney General Abdirahman Jama Hayan’s request for the Supreme Court to dismiss Khalif, alleging that he had violated the constitution and supported SSC-Khatumo forces.
SECURITY
Highlight of the Week:
- MoD Spokesperson announces new Kenyan, Ethiopian troops ahead of offensive
Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Brigadier General Abdullahi Ali Anod has said Kenyan and Ethiopian governments have deployed additional troops ahead of the second phase of the counter-offensive against al-Shabaab. “If the Ethiopian troops, along with Somali forces, do not participate and defend the people and their land, the achievements made so far will not be sustained,” he said. Anod added that Somalia’s government has prepared fresh troops for deployment and emphasised that the country’s forces would assume a leadership role in the offensive’s next phase.
- The Somali Embassy in Sudan looted by militia
Somalia’s embassy in Khartoum was reportedly looted on Monday 12 June by unidentified armed militia. Somalia’s Ambassador to Sudan, Mohamed Sheikh Isaac, criticised the looting, accusing the militias of not respecting the sanctity of diplomatic institutions. He further expressed concerns regarding the deteriorating situation in Sudan as fighting rages between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The RSF has previously been accused of looting embassies in Khartoum.
With our keen focus on accurate, insightful, and comprehensive coverage, Gorfayn Weekly Briefs aims to keep you well-informed on the shifting dynamics of power, policy reform, security measures, and peacekeeping efforts, delivering a clear-eyed understanding of the complexities shaping the nation’s progress.
Rights
Copyright: Gorfayn (2023). This work is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC-BY-NC 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this publication.