Officials Withdraw from Garowe Conference
Garowe Conference (From left: Amb Mahiga, PM Abdiweli, Speaker Hassan, Puntland President Farole
What did i say before this started, it was all nothing but a garowe dictator trying to find himself a majerteen Parliament in MogadishuDisagreements are brewing on the second day of the 2nd Somali National Constitution meeting, which opened on Wednesday in Garowe, located in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, forcing some delegations to withdraw from the proceedings.
Officials from Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), regional administrations, and the international community are attending the three day conference to discuss amendments to the Somali constitution, re-electing new members of parliament, and how to reorganize the federal government.
These debates, however, triggered such disagreements that the Galmudug representatives and the National Constitutional Committee withdrew after voicing their dissatisfaction with how the meetings were progressing.
Although the members who left have not yet officially commented on their departure, confidential sources told Somalia Report the head of Galmudug was annoyed by the way the parliament will be selected, while the constitutional committee rejected the way the international community and United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) were interfering in their task.
“The biggest issue why the delegates from Galmudug left the meeting was how the parliament will be selected, which enraged the leaders of Galmudug who see themselves as an equally powerful administration. They believe they should have the same number of seats as the Puntland administration,” one of the Somali lawmakers in the meeting told Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity.
“The constitutional committee left the meeting after they met with experts who were well acquainted with constitution matters. The committee believed this group of experts was only there to interfere in their role,” the source added.
The meeting abruptly ended after the members left the hall, leaving other officials to try and bring them back. It is not yet known if the Galmudug delegation or the national constitutional committee will return for the last day, Friday.
Although the media were not allowed to take part in the meeting, sources said members of international community were in attendance and listened to the debate, but did not give any speeches or presentations.
Somalia Prime Minister Abdiweli Mahamed Ali, the speaker of the parliament Sharif Hassan, Puntland President Abdirahman Farole, Galmudug President Col Aalin, and UN special envoy to Somalia to UN Augustine Mahiga were among those who attended the proceedings.
This disagreement comes only a day after 268 members of parliament denounced the conference as only a tool to prop up (former) speaker Hassan, who they fired last December.
Meanwhile the delegation from the pro-government Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa arrived on Thursday after being unable to fly on Wednesday.
The security of Garowe was tightened and police could be seen throughout the streets.
Thank god the Somali parliament declared this meeting illegal and now stakeholders have withdrawn
