Kismayo, SOMALIA – In a display of defiance and determination, most of the Members of Parliament (MPs) from Jubaland have successfully reached Kismayo, the regional capital, despite facing significant obstacles and opposition from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in Mogadishu. The MPs, who had previously informed Speaker of Parliament Aden Madobe of their intention to visit their constituency for consultations with the Jubaland administration, were initially denied permission to travel and faced the threat of being blocked from leaving the capital.
However, the Jubaland MPs reportedly threatened the Speaker with the prospect of an unruly Parliament if he attempted to obstruct their departure. This show of resolve and unity among the MPs, who stood firm in their determination to carry out their constitutional duties and represent the interests of their constituents, ultimately forced the Speaker to back down and allow them to proceed with their journey.
The successful arrival of the Jubaland MPs in Kismayo marks a major setback for the FGS’s efforts to centralize power and control in Mogadishu. It also underscores the growing assertiveness and influence of federal member states like Jubaland, which have increasingly challenged the FGS’s attempts to monopolize decision-making and impose its will on the regions.
The Controversial Mandate Extension
Even as the Jubaland MPs were making their way to Kismayo, however, Speaker Aden Madobe was moving ahead with efforts to legitimize the controversial and unconstitutional decision to extend the mandates of the federal member state (FMS) leadership and, by extension, that of the FGS itself. The decision, which was taken by the National Consultative Council (NCC) without the participation or consent of key stakeholders such as Puntland and Jubaland, has been widely criticized as a blatant attempt by the FGS to extend its own power and control at the expense of regional autonomy and democratic legitimacy.
The Speaker has created a Parliamentary committee to create the framework for the unrealistic and unattainable goal of holding direct elections across Somalia, as a means of justifying the mandate extension and giving it a veneer of legitimacy. This move, which has been seen as a cynical ploy to manipulate the electoral process and maintain the FGS’s grip on power, has been met with widespread condemnation and opposition from political leaders, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens alike.
The Speaker’s efforts to push through the mandate extension, despite the clear lack of consensus and the opposition of key stakeholders, have once again exposed the deep-seated tensions and divisions that have long plagued Somalia’s political landscape. They have also highlighted the urgent need for a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable approach to governance and electoral reform, one that prioritizes the needs and aspirations of all Somalis and respects the principles of regional autonomy and power-sharing enshrined in the country’s constitution.
