Sunday April 20, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — A session of Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament ended in chaos on Saturday after lawmakers clashed over the controversial removal of MP Dr. Abdullahi Hashi Abiib, whose seat was declared vacant last month due to repeated absences.

Opposition lawmakers presented a motion of no confidence against Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madoobe, accusing him of violating parliamentary procedures by unilaterally stripping MP Abiib of his immunity. However, the Speaker refused to accept the motion, calling it illegal and claiming it placed him at risk of criminal liability.

“This motion is against the rules of Parliament,” said Speaker Madoobe, who also accused the MPs behind the motion of deliberately disrupting the session.

Tensions escalated quickly, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the meeting prematurely as shouting and disorder gripped the chamber.

Lawmakers backing the motion insisted their actions were not aimed at defending Abiib himself, but rather at protecting parliamentary norms and the rights of elected representatives. MP Asho Koos, one of the motion’s signatories, criticized the Speaker for bypassing the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures.

“The Speaker lied about the rules of Parliament,” she said. “I am a member of the Rules Committee—we were not consulted, not summoned. This sets a dangerous precedent.”

MP Dahir Amin Jeesow also condemned the Speaker’s handling of the matter and joined other lawmakers in declaring a loss of confidence in his leadership. “We cannot allow unilateral decisions that violate due process. Parliament must follow its own laws,” Jeesow said in a press conference following the session.

The controversy stems from Speaker Madoobe’s March 15 announcement that MP Abiib had lost his seat for missing two consecutive sessions without a valid excuse.

Abiib, a vocal government critic, has repeatedly accused officials of corruption and submitted reports to international organizations. He has also written extensively on governance issues, particularly corruption investigations. Last year, he claimed Somali government leaders had sent him threatening messages and said he was unable to return to Mogadishu.

Saturday’s uproar underscores mounting tensions within the Lower House, as debates over accountability, procedure, and the limits of parliamentary authority take center stage ahead of anticipated electoral reforms.