Community leaders in Somalia on Sunday condemned a decision by the country's parliament to extend its own mandate for three more years, backed by some lawmakers opposed to the move.
"This decision by the lawmakers is unacceptable and we call on them to dispense with their move extending their own mandate for three years", said a statement issued by Hawiye clan elders in the capital Mogadishu.
They criticised the move "in their strongest terms possible," they added.
Parliament had made what appeared to be a self-serving decision without consultation, Mohamed Hasan, chairman of the Hawiye clan elders council, told reporters.
On Thursday, the 550-seat body voted to extend its mandate, which had been due to expire in August, with 421 of the 436 deputies present backing the move.
President of the Assembly Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan said the move was necessary to save the country from anarchy.
The current parliament's mandate began in 2004.
The UN special envoy to Somalia Augustine Mahiga has already criticised the move, also because of the lack of consultation.
And dozens of lawmakers who had opposed the decision have now thrown their weight behind the critics pushing for parliament to reconsider.
"This decision brings shame on the national assembly and we need urgent steps be taken to dissolve it completely otherwise we prove that we don?t serve the society", said Somali lawmaker Mohamed Adan.
But another lawmaker who backed the move stood by the decision.
"We tell you that we will be insisting on our decision...," Abdalla Boss Ahmed said.
"Somalia is a sovereign country and the parliament is the legitimate institution, making decisions for a better future...," he added.
Members of the sufi sect Ahlusuna, which is allied to the government in its fight against the Shebab militants, also criticised the decision.
So too has the autonomous Somali region of Puntland.
Source: AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment