Somaliland Needs A Strong Opposition

[mikexamar]

The election of President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud "Silaanyo" in 2010 heralded the demise of the effectiveness of both chambers of the Somaliland parliament.

The demise of UDUB as a political party also contributed to political weakness of the Somaliland's House of Representative.

This has to change.

Already suffering from a weak leadership under Speaker Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi "Irro", who has not only left his former party, UCID , but spent the last two years building a new political party, Wadani; A Kulmiye dominated House of Representatives became a mere rubber stamp for the administration of President Silaanyo.

Despite a new building and facilities, increasing funding from the international community and the government, the House become a ghost town. This once vibrant, effective and vital place became a gathering for idle chatter, gossip, the reading of newspapers and in some cases, a quite, cool place to take a nap!

Recently, five representatives were expelled for failing to attend the House, in some cases for years, whilst at the same time still drawing their salaries!

The House of Elders is no better. That venerable institution has become derelict. Its chair Saleban Mohamud Adan "Saleban Gaal" spends most of his time overseas receiving medical treatment and the old stalwarts of the chamber are simply old and tired.

Somaliland 's political institutions have become sub-servant to the presidency and this is a dangerous situation which is neither good for the country's stability nor its democratic development.

Somaliland is in a dire need for a strong opposition. The current status-quo is not viable. There is no debate or accountability, just demonstrations, protests and destruction. The forum for public dissent has been muzzled, silenced and bought off.

Somaliland now has three certified political parties and it is time for New UCID and Wadani to earn their stripes and formulate a strong opposition.

It is time for the moribund Somaliland parliament to become relevant again, and to do so, I humbly, suggest the following five steps;

Hold an Extra-ordinary session to clarify once and for all the Speaker situation and clearly define the political allegiances of the representatives in House, especially with regard to those from UDUB.
Revive the various parliamentary committees and give them judiciary powers.
Introduce a new system for party whips, who report to their respective parties and not the Speaker or his deputies.
Increase the quorum number.
Expel any member who had failed to attend any session without a valid reason
Create a dedicated programme on TV (either public or private) or on Radio when the parliament is in session.

I am certain that there are other Somalilanders with similar or even better ideas and it is time for them to speak up.

The once diligent, thorough and relevant Somaliland parliament is in danger of becoming a irrelevant, a "makhaayad".

In the run up to the next parliamentary elections, the new political parties, in particular, the opposition New UCID and Wadani must demonstrate that they are capable of offering loyal and effective opposition and are ready to govern.

Power in Somaliland is shared between the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary, it seems now, only the Executive is barely working. No democracy can survive in such a situation.

Somaliland needs a strong opposition, now more than ever.


ruraledcomm@yahoo.co.uk

[original dervish]

Get some HAG operatives in there....they`ll soon shake the place up.