Somalia Parliament in Turmoil as Speaker Blocks Motion Seeking His Ouster

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A scheduled session of Somalia’s lower house of parliament descended into chaos on Saturday and was subsequently postponed, after lawmakers clashed over a motion submitted against Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur, commonly known as Adan Madobe.

The standoff erupted when Speaker Madobe refused to acknowledge the motion, which called for his removal from office. The motion follows his controversial decision last month to expel MP Dr. Abdullahi Hashi Abiib, a vocal government critic who represents the Awdal region in northwestern Somalia.

Madobe stripped Abiib of his parliamentary membership on March 15, a move that has drawn strong condemnation from opposition lawmakers who have labelled it illegal and a breach of parliamentary procedure.

“Speaker Madobe has overstepped his authority. Removing an MP without due process is a serious violation of our internal rules,” one opposition lawmaker said on condition of anonymity, citing fear of political retaliation.

As tensions rose inside the Lower House chamber, opposition MPS disrupted proceedings with shouting and loud protests, prompting the Speaker to postpone the session.

The disruption highlights growing political divisions within Somalia’s federal institutions, as lawmakers accuse the parliamentary leadership of targeting critics of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.

No new date has been set for the next parliamentary sitting, and it remains unclear whether the motion against Madobe will be tabled in future sessions. The crisis comes at a time when Somalia is facing multiple security and political challenges, including a fragile reconciliation process with the breakaway region of Somaliland.

GAROWE ONLINE