SOMALI MPS HOLD MEETING TO CHART WAY FORWARD OVER CRISIS
Kanini Evans Kariuki
July 09, 2009
THE prime Minister of the Somali Transitional Federal Government H.E Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, invited the Members of Parliament (MPs) staying in Nairobi for a lunch meeting following a request from the MPs themselves.
The MPs made prior communication with the Speaker of the Parliament in Mogadishu who endorsed the lunch meeting hosted by the Prime Minister.
The lunch meeting took place at Panari Hotel- Nairobi, on Sunday June 21, 2009 from 12.30 to 15.30pm.
Participants were Prime Minister H.E. Omar Abdirashid and few of his Cabinet Ministers, Former Prime Ministers and MPs Hon. Ali Mohamed Gedi and Hon. Hassan Abshir Farah, Former Deputy PM and Minister Hon. Salim Alio Ibraw, Former Senior Ministers such as Hon. Ismail Mohamud Hurre (Buba) and Hon, Mowlid Ma´ane Mohamed with the company of around 100Mps including Heads of Parliamentary Committees to start with Hon.Awad Ahmed Ashareh, Hon. Ibrahim Sheikh Ali (jeebo), Hon. Mohammed Issak Afaraale, Hon. Mohamed Hussein Rage and Hon. Hussein Abdi Wade among others. Senior diplomats and civil servants of the Somali government, civil society groups (supporters of the government) residing in Nairobi.
AGENDA
The agenda was the PM briefing on the current catastrophic situation of Somalia and his request of support by the Parliament in relation to the Somali parliament, the Speaker´s appeal to the Somalia´s neighboring countries to rescue and defend the sovereignty of the country and people against the terrorist AL Qaida attacks followed by the cabinet resolution of the same appeal on June 20, 2009 in Mogadishu.
Comments, contributions and any other business from the participating MPs was also on the agenda.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE EVENTS
After lunch, Mr. Mohamed Ali Nur, the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, invited Prime Minister Omar to brief the meeting and officially request the sitting Members of Parliament for their support.
The PM took to the floor and explained the increasing attacks of the Al- Shabaab and Islamic Party forces and their allied foreign fighters against the government and the already suffering Somalia people.
He emphasized that the above insurgents are linked with the AL Qaida network aiming not only at the destabilization of the globe but also planning to make Somalia their safe haven for their known barbaric and terrorist operations.
Since the event was organized for the MPs, Hon. Hassan Mohamed Warsame (Gurey), an MP was given the task of ruining the rest of the business. He was delegated by the MPs and accordingly called few speakers namely Hon. Hassan Abshir, Hon. Ali Hagi Mohamud (Ali Bashe), Hon. Mowlid Ma´ane and Hon. Ali Mohmamed Gedi to make presentations.
Hon. Hassan Abshir made introductions, word of thanks to the PM for inviting the MPs and finally by responding to the PM´s request, stated that Somali legislators in Nairobi give their full support to the appeal stressed by the Parliament Speaker Hon. Sheikh Aden Madoobe as well as the cabinet decision on the emergency matter of the country.
In the meantime, Mr. Abshir also appealed to international organizations and countries to provide and speed up their political and financial support to the TFG in order to strengthen, empower and equip its security forces for the purpose of defending the sovereignty if Somalia and her people.
Hon Ali Bashe highlighted the root causes of what he termed as a failure of the current government of President Sharif that mushroomed from the Djibouti Reconciliation conference.
The MP pointed out that the process in Djibouti sidelined the Transitional Federal charter which stipulated the membership process and the roadmap of the transitional period.
He emphasized that President Sharif´s government did not meet the expectations of the Somali people and led the country into destruction, killings and displacement of innocent citizens as well as humanitarian disaster and as a result, the government has failed.
Hon. Mowlid Ma´ane underlined the urgent need to support the government under siege, and focused on the worsening security situation in the country that will pose repercussions and negative impact not only on Somalia, but also the whole of Horn of Africa region.Intervention was necessary before it was too late
Hon. Ali Gedi took to the floor and thanked Prime Minister Omar for availing the opportunity to address his colleagues in the government and parliament.
Prof. Gedi whose speech was widely appreciated by the participants, recalled his own experiences during his premiership tenure of three years and the TFG governance framework.
He detailed the required power separation among the transitional federal institutions namely the parliament, the cabinet ministers and the independent judiciary where the Head of state is the highest authority organ that coordinates and supervises the three organs of the government.
The Ministers should operate under the guidance and instruction of the PM, where the MPs are governed by the Speaker and the Judiciary officials under the Chief Justice (Supreme Court President). These are the only avenues leading to the office of the President, Hon Gedi explained.
The unlawful culture of some Ministers connected to, and directly reporting to the President by overlooking their Prime Minister should be prohibited. The ministers are equal in duties and rights and there are no heavy weights, medium and small weights, he said.
Hon Ali Gedi urged the meeting to welcome any country including the neighbors of Somalia without exclusion in order to participate in the protection of the Somalia government and people.
The contributions, advice and suggestions by Prof. Gedi warned the attention and sympathy of the audience.
It is worth mentioning that all the speakers in the event expressed their condolences to the families, relatives and friends of late Hon. Omar Hashi Aden, former Minister for National Security, late Amb. Abdikarim Laqanyo, late Col. Ali Said (Commander of Benadir Police Force), and finally late Hon. Eng. Mohammed Hussein Addow (recently killed in Mogadishu) as well as all those who have been affected by the terrorist attacks in Beletwenye and all other places in Somalia.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, PM Omar Abdirashid delivered his closing remarks to the meeting by thanking the participants for their support to the government in its efforts of appealing to the international community for salvation of the country from terrorist powers.
The Members of Parliament present in Nairobi formed an ad hoc committee to prepare a framework and plan of action for the way forward, in order to find a lasting solution for Somalia in particular and the Horn of Africa region in general.
An action plan acceptable to the partners and friends of Somalia will be circulated soon.
END
The MPs made prior communication with the Speaker of the Parliament in Mogadishu who endorsed the lunch meeting hosted by the Prime Minister.
The lunch meeting took place at Panari Hotel- Nairobi, on Sunday June 21, 2009 from 12.30 to 15.30pm.
Participants were Prime Minister H.E. Omar Abdirashid and few of his Cabinet Ministers, Former Prime Ministers and MPs Hon. Ali Mohamed Gedi and Hon. Hassan Abshir Farah, Former Deputy PM and Minister Hon. Salim Alio Ibraw, Former Senior Ministers such as Hon. Ismail Mohamud Hurre (Buba) and Hon, Mowlid Ma´ane Mohamed with the company of around 100Mps including Heads of Parliamentary Committees to start with Hon.Awad Ahmed Ashareh, Hon. Ibrahim Sheikh Ali (jeebo), Hon. Mohammed Issak Afaraale, Hon. Mohamed Hussein Rage and Hon. Hussein Abdi Wade among others. Senior diplomats and civil servants of the Somali government, civil society groups (supporters of the government) residing in Nairobi.
AGENDA
The agenda was the PM briefing on the current catastrophic situation of Somalia and his request of support by the Parliament in relation to the Somali parliament, the Speaker´s appeal to the Somalia´s neighboring countries to rescue and defend the sovereignty of the country and people against the terrorist AL Qaida attacks followed by the cabinet resolution of the same appeal on June 20, 2009 in Mogadishu.
Comments, contributions and any other business from the participating MPs was also on the agenda.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE EVENTS
After lunch, Mr. Mohamed Ali Nur, the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, invited Prime Minister Omar to brief the meeting and officially request the sitting Members of Parliament for their support.
The PM took to the floor and explained the increasing attacks of the Al- Shabaab and Islamic Party forces and their allied foreign fighters against the government and the already suffering Somalia people.
He emphasized that the above insurgents are linked with the AL Qaida network aiming not only at the destabilization of the globe but also planning to make Somalia their safe haven for their known barbaric and terrorist operations.
Since the event was organized for the MPs, Hon. Hassan Mohamed Warsame (Gurey), an MP was given the task of ruining the rest of the business. He was delegated by the MPs and accordingly called few speakers namely Hon. Hassan Abshir, Hon. Ali Hagi Mohamud (Ali Bashe), Hon. Mowlid Ma´ane and Hon. Ali Mohmamed Gedi to make presentations.
Hon. Hassan Abshir made introductions, word of thanks to the PM for inviting the MPs and finally by responding to the PM´s request, stated that Somali legislators in Nairobi give their full support to the appeal stressed by the Parliament Speaker Hon. Sheikh Aden Madoobe as well as the cabinet decision on the emergency matter of the country.
In the meantime, Mr. Abshir also appealed to international organizations and countries to provide and speed up their political and financial support to the TFG in order to strengthen, empower and equip its security forces for the purpose of defending the sovereignty if Somalia and her people.
Hon Ali Bashe highlighted the root causes of what he termed as a failure of the current government of President Sharif that mushroomed from the Djibouti Reconciliation conference.
The MP pointed out that the process in Djibouti sidelined the Transitional Federal charter which stipulated the membership process and the roadmap of the transitional period.
He emphasized that President Sharif´s government did not meet the expectations of the Somali people and led the country into destruction, killings and displacement of innocent citizens as well as humanitarian disaster and as a result, the government has failed.
Hon. Mowlid Ma´ane underlined the urgent need to support the government under siege, and focused on the worsening security situation in the country that will pose repercussions and negative impact not only on Somalia, but also the whole of Horn of Africa region.Intervention was necessary before it was too late
Hon. Ali Gedi took to the floor and thanked Prime Minister Omar for availing the opportunity to address his colleagues in the government and parliament.
Prof. Gedi whose speech was widely appreciated by the participants, recalled his own experiences during his premiership tenure of three years and the TFG governance framework.
He detailed the required power separation among the transitional federal institutions namely the parliament, the cabinet ministers and the independent judiciary where the Head of state is the highest authority organ that coordinates and supervises the three organs of the government.
The Ministers should operate under the guidance and instruction of the PM, where the MPs are governed by the Speaker and the Judiciary officials under the Chief Justice (Supreme Court President). These are the only avenues leading to the office of the President, Hon Gedi explained.
The unlawful culture of some Ministers connected to, and directly reporting to the President by overlooking their Prime Minister should be prohibited. The ministers are equal in duties and rights and there are no heavy weights, medium and small weights, he said.
Hon Ali Gedi urged the meeting to welcome any country including the neighbors of Somalia without exclusion in order to participate in the protection of the Somalia government and people.
The contributions, advice and suggestions by Prof. Gedi warned the attention and sympathy of the audience.
It is worth mentioning that all the speakers in the event expressed their condolences to the families, relatives and friends of late Hon. Omar Hashi Aden, former Minister for National Security, late Amb. Abdikarim Laqanyo, late Col. Ali Said (Commander of Benadir Police Force), and finally late Hon. Eng. Mohammed Hussein Addow (recently killed in Mogadishu) as well as all those who have been affected by the terrorist attacks in Beletwenye and all other places in Somalia.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, PM Omar Abdirashid delivered his closing remarks to the meeting by thanking the participants for their support to the government in its efforts of appealing to the international community for salvation of the country from terrorist powers.
The Members of Parliament present in Nairobi formed an ad hoc committee to prepare a framework and plan of action for the way forward, in order to find a lasting solution for Somalia in particular and the Horn of Africa region in general.
An action plan acceptable to the partners and friends of Somalia will be circulated soon.
END
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