Somali parliament begins constitutional review
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:33 pm
The Somali parliament on Saturday (March 9th) began a comprehensive review of the country's provisional federal constitution, Somalia's Garowe Online reported.
Every article in the constitution adopted in August will be subject to review, said Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, inviting independent commissions to join the lawmakers in their efforts.
"The review of the constitution is a very important task," he said. "We are conducting the review following many meetings with civil society representatives who requested that the parliament review the constitution."
Particular attention will likely be given to Article 49, which stipulates the guidelines for establishing federal states. The issue has been contested recently, as Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has declared last months' Jubbaland state formation convention unconstitutional.
The federal parliament will decide the number of states in Somalia, Minister of Interior and National Security Abdikarim Hassan Guled said on Friday.
