Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Abdelh
Published on 2024-03-30 14:21:29
Somalia made significant changes to its constitution during a parliamentary vote, granting the country’s president the authority to appoint a prime minister. The bicameral federal parliament in Mogadishu approved amendments to the first four chapters of the provisional constitution after weeks of intense debate, with the Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission (ICRIC) proposing the changes.
During a joint session, lawmakers voted on each chapter individually before casting their final votes on the overall amendments. The speaker of the Lower House, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, announced that a majority of the members supported the amendments, leading to their unanimous approval without any abstentions or rejections.
Hussein Idow, chairperson of the Constitutional Review Committee, mentioned that three provisions related to religion in the draft would undergo further review to align them with the principles and values of the Somali people. The review of the provisional constitution has been ongoing for nearly a decade, with the recent efforts gaining momentum in late 2023 under the 11th parliament of Somalia.
One significant change in the approved draft is the establishment of a president and a prime minister, giving the president the power to appoint and remove the prime minister without requiring a vote of confidence from parliament. The terms of office for government constitutional bodies are set at five years, and regional state presidents are referred to as leaders. Additionally, the constitution now allows for the presence of three political parties, promoting a multi-party system.
Despite the approval of the amendments, some political stakeholders, including former Somali Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, as well as Puntland state leaders, have opposed the changes, citing concerns about the lack of consensus among political actors.
The amendments also cover the age of maturity for girls and the criminalization of female genital mutilation, setting the age of maturity at 15 and the age of responsibility at 18 to ensure protection under juvenile justice standards. However, rights groups have expressed concerns that this could reinforce traditional norms that may lead to girls marrying at the age of 15.
Human Rights Watch cautioned that the current constitutional proposal could increase the risk of child marriage, affecting the health, education, and protection of girls. They urged Somalia’s parliament to uphold constitutional protections for children, particularly girls, and called on donors to push the government to fulfill its international human rights commitments.
Overall, the changes to Somalia’s constitution mark a significant step towards reforming the country’s governance structure and addressing critical issues related to governance, human rights, and political representation.
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