Somalia: Puntland President opens meeting to expand state Parliament

GAROWE, Puntland- The President of Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali “Gaas” opened a meeting aiming to expand the state's 66-seats Parliament in Garowe on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports. 

President Ali, Vice President Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji Omar "Amey", caretaker cabinet ministers, MPs and few representatives from regional clans attended the meeting organized by Tanade clan, seeking to expand representation in the Parliament.

However,  key prominent elders including Islan Isse, Islan Bashir, King Burhan, Suldan Sa'eed Abdisalam and other high figures were not present at the meeting in Garowe city, event they had been invited by Puntland President.

This came after a prior meeting recently held in the state capital has ended without fruitful outcome, prompting President Ali to send an invitation to all elders, requesting them to attend the second the ongoing conference.

Last May, Puntland Lawmakers have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to expand state’s 66-seats-chamber with 7 additional members by the President, saying that it will lead to further disputes and constitutional crisis.

GO has learnt that Puntland presidency, and some state parliamentarians are lobbying for Ali's plan to increase the House with 7 new seats for clans hailing from Mudug region, despite MPs' rejection as "unlawful".

The move coincides with Ali’s tenure ending in less than two years, and expected that state’s 66-seats-chamber will pick the next President in January 2019. 

GAROWEONLINE