Sayyid Omar

Laascaanood, SSC-Khaatumo – Members of the SSC-Khaatumo Parliament held a press conference yesterday, expressing their concerns over obstruction against their proposal regarding the formation of the SSC-Khaatumo Constitutional Committee.

The lawmakers accused the Speaker of the SSC-Khaatumo Parliament of violating parliamentary rules by abruptly closing the session, which was supposed to deliberate on various legislative matters.

Additionally, the MPs argued that according to the SSC-Khaatumo Interim Charter, priority should be given to discussing key issues that affect the future of the region.

“We submitted a motion requesting the presentation, discussion, and approval of the law establishing the constitutional committee. However, the Speaker closed the session while crucial issues, including the approval of the Auditor General and the Civil Service Law, were still pending, despite the readiness of MPs to proceed,” the lawmakers stated in their release.

For his part, the Speaker of the SSC-Khaatumo Parliament, Jaamac Yaasiin Warsame, clarified that the lawmakers’ proposal had followed due process and would be referred to the relevant authorities for review.

The Speaker emphasized that any proposal not explicitly outlined in the SSC-Khaatumo Charter requires legal verification before it can be acted upon. He assured that the matter would be referred to the appropriate institutions for review within three working days.

“We inform the MPs who submitted the proposal that the draft law establishing the SSC-Khaatumo Constitutional Committee is not explicitly outlined in the SSC-Khaatumo Charter. Therefore, it neither receives automatic approval nor rejection. Instead, we will refer it to the relevant authorities for a legal assessment,” said the Speaker of the SSC-Khaatumo Parliament.

This dispute emerges as the SSC-Khaatumo leadership had, at the end of last year, emphasized the necessity of transitioning out of the interim status. Plans were announced to appoint a constitutional committee tasked with drafting an inclusive constitution for SSC-Khaatumo, expected to be finalized by mid-year, either in May or June.