Somaliland Parliament: A Call To Become Something More.

[Deeq A.]

Criticism is a feeling of deprivation, a recourse against a sense of something missing. Quite rightlly, last Tuesday, 3rd August, 2021, was the day Somaliland seemed to have regained something that has evidently been missing for almost a decade.

The purpose of the first session of the newly elected parliament, the first essential act, was two-fpld: (‘1) To elect the speaker of the parliament and (2) To let MPs take oath of alligiance.

In the name Allah, all PMs lifted their hands up and sworn their oath of loyalty to the religion of Islam, their country and their people.

As we have seen, 81 MPs were present at the session, while one MP was absent from the meeting. The chairman of the Guurti, the then parliament speaker, the chairman of the supreme court, distinguished guests, observers from international communities, citizens from civil society, and the chairmen of the opposition parties were also present at the session.

The issue to watch the election of the speaker began with the question of whether the opposition parties could become sufficiently organized to offer a united front that would beat the ruling party’s consistent trial to bring to its side many members from opposition parties through payola. It was also worth keeping an eye on who will become the chairing person of the session since the oldest MP, Mr Yasin Xir Faratoon, was a candidate.

At the beginning of the session, Mr Yasin Xir Faratoon tried to preside over the session and seated himself at the chairing desk, but opposition members objected, arguing that a candidate cannot preside over the meeting, despite the fact that Somaliland constitution does not clearly prohibit the oldest MP cannot chair the session when he is a candidate for the Speaker.

However, Mr Faraton insisted to continue presiding over the session for the first few minutes, but the meeting lost calmness when members from the opposition parties stood and began shouting, protesting Faraton’s trial to chair the session.

To prevent further chaos from the session, a discussion as to who would preside over the session immediately took between the chairman of the Guurti, the chairman of the supreme court and the former parliament speaker.

Fortunately the chairman of the Guurti suggested that the chairman of the supreme court should chair the session. The chairman of the supreme court accepted to preside over the seesion.

The chairing of the session by the chairman of the supreme court was risky in the event that a dispute over the number MPs who voted for both candidates arose and a gridlock has resulted from the dispute over the count.

What was needed and still needs clarification is: Was it legal or illega that the session be chaired by the chairman of the supreme court, where disputes that cannot be resolved by any other legal institution are supposed to be reffered to? If a conflict could have happened in the session, to which court the case was be taken to get solved?

The session proceeded smoothly and the MPs liberally cast their votes without any distraction or disruption. The count happened fairly. No difference or dispute over the counting of votes has arisen and honorable Abdirisaq Khaliif, was chosen as the new parliament speaker from the opposition party (Waddani Party).

At the session the members of the new parliament found themselves ideologically divided into reformers and reactionaries: MPs who want change and MPs who hate the change for which Somaliland population voted on during recent parliament and local council election.

In fact most members of the parliament did not fail to toe their party line and actually voted for their nominated candidate except few members who the effect of matter tamed their minds.

What was morally striking was rhe fact that cause-oriented MPs voted for a young MP who is a reformer, fighting for a power-balanced system, while cash-and-clan-oriented MPs voted for an old MP who is struggling for the continuation of a corruption-based system.

As they say, “a reform is a correction of abuses; a reactive is a recourse against regenerative politics.”

Abdirisaq Khalif promised, in his candidacy speach, that he will leave no stone unturned in his bid to develop a political consensus in favour of reform:

a) Lead the parliament, to the best of his ability, with a vision that is characterized by the willingness to work hard; a desire for excellence, and a belief in all his right and responsiblity to fulfill national obligations in all honesty and fairness.

b) Promote notions that will foster economic growth, revive and re-regulate check-and-balance procedure, defend Somaliland’s existence as an independent government against those who threaten to deny its sovereign state, reform the culture that lost its shine and sheen, reassert and revitalise the constitutional principles that are easily abused for personal gains by tbose in power.

c) Work with Colonel Muse Biixi through the joint responsibility of both the government and the parliament by the virtue to fulfill the social responsibility that always involves in expanding the richness of public life, rather than simply the richness of tbose who are in power.

d) Root out all rifts and frictions that have been caused by the contest between the ruling party and the opposition parties for the election of the parliament speaker and redress this matter to create an environment in which together we as the legislature’s chairing members sow fraternity and frienndly collaboration within the institution.

e) Seek and suggest to Somaliland government policies and plans that will improve peoples’ living standards, enhance their knowledge and equip them with the skills that can free societies from poverty, in all its dehumanising forms.

When deciding what skills to highlight in his capacity as a leader, Mr Abdirisaq Khalif proved himself by any practical sense. He proved to be an orator, be sensitive to what others feel, impartial and objective; approachable, tactful; able to delegate duties, good at team building, capable to plan for skills enhancement and ensure decisions are taken and recorded.

For the past decades, there were no impartial institutions to join, no selfless leaders to follow, no government official to trust, and no role model to set the example, but today the hope to join MPs guided by conscience and compassion, legislatures to appeal to and trust has revived again.

Probably selecting Mr Abdirusaq Khalif as a parliament speaker began with a promising and blessing air, blowing from the four winds and a hope that ensures change-making movements that hopefully carry motions and messages for the people who are fighting for their tomorrow.

A change is not just a picture of what could be done; it is a call to become something more and create something new. That is what the new chairing committee of Somaliland parliament is all about.

 

 

Jama Ismail 

jamafalaag@gmail.com

Qaran News