MPs: ‘Treaties signed by the government are not legitimate unless approved by Parliament’

Parliament representatives in session (photo file)

Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 23, 2007 (SL Times) – 20 MPs from the lower house of Somaliland parliament issued a press statement on 20/06/07 entitled "Foreign treaties and agreements signed by the government cannot be legitimate without the prior acknowledgement and approval of parliament."

The statement criticized the recent agreement which the ministry of livestock signed with the Saudi businessman, Mr Al-Jabiri to whom, according to the MPs, `the government virtually signed away the free market policy of the country when it gave Mr Al-Jabiri a complete monopoly of Somaliland's export livestock market.’

In their statement, the MPs said, `we have become accustomed to the government's habit of proclaiming that it signed an agreement with a certain foreign company without bothering to submit it to parliament for legislating the validity of this agreement in to law. Parliament, up to this day has not received one of the many foreign agreements and treaties that this government has made with foreign companies or governments, even though the constitution of this country explicitly states in article 53 (3) that `all such agreements and treaties must be ratified, legislated and debated by both houses of parliament, in order, for it to be made in to binding law.'

The MPs added, `the government has agreed that all our livestock for export markets will be channelled through Al-Jabiri. The government is obviously not looking after the interests of the country but is serving the interests of a few individuals bent on making a lot of money to the detriment of the country and its people.'

The statement attributed the following problems to the Al-Jabiri deal:-

1. Livestock which used to go through port of Berbera for export has dwindled immensely ever since this deal with Al-Jabiri, and Somaliland livestock currently are diverted to other ports, like Bosaso and Djibouti.

2. The good relationship Somaliland used to have with Djibouti is not any longer apparent or relevant, ever since Djibouti declared Somaliland's representative in Djibouti as `persona non-grata'. This occurred when Somaliland did not fulfil its part of the Al-Jabiri deal early in the year. Djibouti was involved in breaking this deal.

3. Those people who used to rear livestock for their livelihoods and those who used to buy their livestock are in a pitiful state as a result of the sharp drop in livestock supply and demand prices.

4. The port of Berbera is close to going out of business because for the past three months Al-Jabiri has only managed to ship 36,000 heads of goats and sheep. How on earth, therefore, will Al-Jabiri ship 2 million heads of livestock per year, as stated in the ministry of livestock agreement with Al-Jabiri.

The lower house of parliament MPs outlined in their press statement the following recommendations for the government to implement:

1. To absolve itself from its agreement made with Al-Jabiri, in the interest of the people of this country to whom we are answerable.

2. To re-establish relations with Djibouti, who is our immediate neighbour.

3. To respect and abide by the laws of this country.

4. To bring before parliament all international and commercial agreements and treaties the government has entered with foreign companies and governments. As stated in the constitution in article 53 (3) that `all such agreements and treaties must be ratified, legislated and debated by both houses of parliament, in order, for it to be made into binding law.' And that all agreements and treaties which the government has not referred to parliament for their endorsement are illegal and invalid.

5. We call upon all companies, local and international, and governments having ties with the government of Somaliland that:

A. We welcome all commercial investments and partnership cooperation of foreign companies and governments wanting to do business in Somaliland; all that which is not contrary to the Islamic Sharia law and regulations of law.

B. In no way can agreements made with the executive government of Somaliland be assumed as legal and binding without the full approval of the parliament of Somaliland. Up to date, no agreements between foreign companies and the government of Somaliland have been presented to parliament for its approval.

The MPs concluded in their statement that `for this reason there is no validity to those agreements signed by the government of Somaliland with commercial, economical and political foreign or local entities, whatsoever.

The press statement was signed by:

1. M. Nuur Arale (Duur) (MP)
2. M. Dhunkaal Guutaale (MP)
3. S. Awil Ali (Buhaaari) (MP)
4. A. Hassan Muhammad (MP)
5. A. Muhammad Diriye (MP)
6. A. Yusuf Ahmed (MP)
7. M. Muhamuud Obsiye (MP)
8. Muhammad Hussien (MP)
9. S. Yusuf Ali Koore (MP)
10. A. Tarabi Oogle (MP)
11. I. Haji Daud Warseme (MP)
12. J. Hassan Adan (MP)
13. S. Elmi Roobley (MP)
14. M. Ali Hersi (MP)
15. A. Osman Bulqaas (MP)
16. A. Abdirahman Yusuf Ali (MP)
17. M Haji Yusuf (MP)
18. A. Osman Aaline (MP)
19. A. Ibrahin Dahir (MP)
20. M. Farah Qabile (MP)

Source: Somaliland Times