State-of-Emergency Fails to Pass Through the Parliament, Waddani Party Considers this as Victory

Government’s proclamation of the State-of-Emergency on parts of Sanaag region did not go through the parliament after voting was interrupted and chairman of the joint session called off the voting. and postponed to Saturday.

The emergency joint session of both houses of the parliament was convened for the ratification of the government’s state-of-emergency on Erigavo, El-Afweyn and Garadag districts of Sanaag region after two senior security officers were brutally murdered in an ambush in Oog area of Saraar region.

Mr. Bashe Mohamed Farah, Speaker of House of Representatives, who was chairing today’s session of 107 members of parliament.

Mr Farah opened the session and told the members of both houses to exercise their constitutional duties to the government’s declaration of the state-of-emergency and to proceed the voting.

Although some MPs demanded that the members allowed to debate about the matter in hand before proceeding to an immediate vote, the chairman refused the demand went ahead with the voting.

When the first MPs of around 40 members voted for the proposal (in favour of the State-of-Emergency), the Chairing stopped the proceedings of the voting, where more than 70 MPs did not get the chance to abstain or vote against the proclamation.

Mr. Farah has noticed the MPs to attend Saturday’s session for the ratification voting.

“Today, the chairman behaved in an unconstitutional way and left the floor while the ongoing vote is still in process. No MP is allowed to leave the house when the voting starts until it finishes.” Mr. Abdiqadir Jirde (Rep-MP) of opposition Waddani Party told the reporters.

Waddani Opposes the state-of-emergency

The chairman of the Somaliland main opposition party, Dr. Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro, held a press conference and congratulated the members of parliament for not agreeing on the unnecessary state-of-emergency in parts of the country.
“Today, Somaliland citizens and the rule of law have triumphed thanks to those responsible MPs. The government should refrain from unconstitutional steps and respect the rule of law and the will of people.” Waddani chairman concluded his brief press conference.

Yesterday, speaker of Waddani Party, Mr. Bakhad Jama Batuun, told the local media that the main opposition party completely opposes the state-of-emergency. He called for the sacking of the interior and security minister Mr. Mohamed Kahin, and claimed that the minister failed to protect the killed officers when they sought help from him.

Today’s incident in the parliament was unexpected, remembering that the majority of members of the parliament are from the ruling party, Kulmiye.