Constitutional crisis grips Puntland State of Somalia

[Deeq A.]

Puntland Parliament MPs voting on a bill.

Garowe (PP News Desk) — Puntland State Parliamentarians once again rejected to ratify Supreme Court judges appointed by President Said Abdullahi Deni. MPs cited violations of guidelines for judicial appointments in Puntland.

President Deni did not consult the Vice President and failed to seek the input of the clergy to submit character references for the new judges.

Judges appointed by President Deni lost parliamentary vote of confidence on 4 July 2022.

Puntland President reserves the right to seek vote of confidence for cabinet members who lose a vote of confidence, but Puntland State Constitution does not grant the President similar privileges to ask the Parliament to give the new judges a vote of confidence after.

Wrongfooted; President Deni is irked by the assertiveness of MPs.

The originalist interpretation of Puntland Constitution by the MPs could make President Deni susceptible to being accused of constitutional violation, a misdemeanour that, if proven true, can lead to his impeachment.

Last week, Puntland parliamentarians summoned Fisheries Minister and the Auditor General. Appalled by the administrative secrecy surrounding fishing licences granted by Puntland State government, MPs accused successive Puntland administrations of breaching the Constitution which vests in the Puntland Parliament the powers to approve fishing licences issued to foreign companies.

© Puntland Post, 2022

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