Mogadishu, SOMALIA – More than 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) from Jubbaland have reportedly been blocked from traveling to Kismayo by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) for consultations with their regional administration. The MPs, who represent Jubbaland in the federal parliament, had informed Speaker Aden Madobe of their intention to visit their constituency, only to be denied permission. The speaker allegedly ordered airport officials to prevent them from leaving, effectively obstructing them from carrying out their duties as elected representatives.
The incident, which follows a similar pattern of harassment and obstruction of Southwest MPs by the FGS,is seen as a blatant attempt by the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to undermine the autonomy and legitimacy of federal member states and to extend its own mandate through undemocratic means. The controversy has once again exposed the deep-seated tensions and divisions that have long plagued Somalia’s political landscape, and highlighted the urgent need for a more inclusive, transparent, and consensus-based approach to governance and electoral reform.
A Violation of Parliamentary Rights
The blocking of Jubbaland MPs is particularly concerning given the broader context of Somalia’s electoral controversy and the ongoing dispute between the FGS and some federal member states over the timeline and modalities of the upcoming elections. Jubbaland, along with Puntland, has been one of the most vocal critics of the FGS’s attempts to monopolize the electoral process and impose its own agenda on the regions, with its leader Ahmed Madobe withdrawing from the National Consultative Council (NCC) in protest over what he saw as the government’s unilateral decision-making and lack of inclusivity.
The FGS’s decision to prevent Jubbaland MPs from traveling to their constituency and consulting with their regional administration is widely seen as an attempt to punish and isolate Jubbaland for its opposition to the government’s electoral agenda, and to force the state to fall in line with the NCC’s controversial communique on the timeline for local and regional elections. By denying MPs the right to freely travel and engage with their constituents, the FGS is effectively undermining the very foundations of Somalia’s federal system and the principles of regional autonomy and power-sharing that underpin it.
The Pattern of Obstruction
The blocking of Jubbaland MPs is part of a broader pattern of intimidation and obstruction by the FGS against MPs from federal member states that have opposed its electoral agenda. In recent weeks, Southwest MPs have also been subjected to similar treatment, with the FGS reportedly preventing them from traveling to Baidoa and engaging with their regional administration.
This pattern of obstruction raises serious concerns about the state of democracy and the rule of law in Somalia, and the ability of elected representatives to carry out their duties without fear of reprisal or interference from the central government.
The FGS’s targeting of Southwest and Jubbaland MPs is a deliberate attempt to silence dissent and force compliance with its electoral agenda, which has been widely criticized as a power grab and a ploy for extension. By preventing MPs from engaging with their constituents and regional administrations, the FGS is effectively undermining the legitimacy and autonomy of federal member states, and eroding the very foundations of Somalia’s federal system.
Moreover, the blocking of MPs is a clear violation of their parliamentary rights and the principles of representative democracy, which require that elected officials be able to carry out their duties without fear of obstruction, intimidation, or retribution. By targeting MPs for their political views and affiliations, the FGS is sending a chilling message to all Somalis that dissent and opposition will not be tolerated, and that the government is willing to use any means necessary to maintain its grip on power.
