Hargeysa, Somaliland, February 14, 2009 – A group of members of the Upper House of Parliament failed to table a motion to change the law that allows removal of the leader of the House despite the leader’s repeated request for them to forward their motion.
According to reporters who were present at the session nearly half of the group did not show up for today’s session, indicating that their motion will fail again. The leader of the Guurti, Mr. Suleiman M. Adam, nevertheless, asked them to come forward and present their motion.
Mr. Muhumed Aw Ahmed who is believed to be spearheading this move, finally stood up and admitted that he is among the group who is behind this move and that they are not ready to table that motion yet.
Mr. Adam then, alluding to the alleged meetings that took place at the Presidential palace, started to speak about meetings that some members were attending in planning this motion to influence the Guurti.
He criticized the Presidency for its interference in the Guurti and stressed that the elections should be held on time. Mr Adam said “If elections are delayed, its the responsibility [of both chambers] of the Parliament to make a decision about the country’s leadership”.
Mr. Adam heaped criticism for a group called Interpeace for wanting to delay the election referring to rumors that it was behind promoting an idea to postpone the election date, he asked “who is Interpeace? When has this entity become a party of our leadership that makes decisions about the future of this country?”.
He stressed the Guurti’s support for the Election Commission and encouraged them to work diligently to hold the presidential elections on time.
He also criticized the large number of presidential security that had been assembled in the area the night before saying that his car was stopped late on Friday.
He unequivocally opposed any attempt to postpone the election date and stressed the elections must be held on time.
Mr. Adam also accused this group of serving the Executive Branch rather than representing the people. The leader of the group Muhumed Aw Ahmed, trying to dispel accusations from Mr. Adam, said they were advancing this motion because of the failures of the Guurti leadership. But Mr. Ahmed did not deny meeting President Riyale or working on his orders.
Mr. Adam also said the talk to change the law started more than two weeks ago. He added “The country has since been gripped by the talk of replacing the Guurti leadership”. He said he asked them to forward their motion two weeks ago and they failed to do so just as they did fail to present it today, so he asked the Guurti to move forward and stop being held back by similar attempts from “groups like this” which he accused of acting like mercenaries for the the Executive Branch (the President).
A large crowd that has gathered outside the building in anticipating of the outcome, has erupted in cheers after learning that the attempt failed.
Source: The Somaliland Globe
 

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