Deadly clashes in Garowe, Puntland MPs oust Speaker Dhoobo-daareed

The lawmakers of Somalia’s northeastern Puntland state parliament have voted the speaker Abdihakim Mohamed Ahmed Dhoobo-Daareed, out of office following an impeachment motion against him.

Announcing the result of the vote, the deputy house speaker Abdiaziz Abdullahi, said 49 MPs out of 53 present voted for the impeachment motion against Ahmed during today’s session in Garowe city.

 The speaker had been in office for just under a year after his election in early January 2019.  They accused of violating the constitution and mobilizing clan forces at the parliament building.

The Deputy speaker Abdiaziz Abdullahi had told a media conference that the speaker had created divisions in the house and was the source of the no-confidence motion that had been filed against the regional President Said Dani.

But in an earlier interview, the speaker alleged that Puntland had been taken hostage by one clan which was forcing the rest out of Garowe town. He argued that all clans had a right to live in Garowe.

On Wednesday, 4 people were killed, including 2 soldiers in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland in a standoff to impeach the speaker.

 The parliament is expected to pick a new speaker in the coming 14 days, according to Abdullahi, who has today appointed a seven-member committee, to spearhead the forthcoming election.

 The latest shock vote of no confidence comes after Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has formally opened the 45th session of the parliament on 26th October 2019.

Other reports said that the speaker was working at the behest of Villa Somalia who wants to punish President Dani for his support for the embattled Jubaland Leader Ahmed Madobe.

Puntland leaders claim that Mogadishu has resorted to funding elders, youth and a section of politicians to destabilize Puntland’s government.