Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama has denounced the attempt at his removal from the Upper House of Parliament as unconstitutional, challenging a decision by Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdillahi, who argued that Jama had automatically vacated his seat after missing four consecutive sessions.
In a statement on October 13, Jama described the Speaker’s move as an overreach of authority, arguing that his absences were the result of his responsibilities as Deputy Prime Minister. “It is alarming that the Speaker would attempt, in an overtly unconstitutional and illegal manner, to remove a duly elected Senator and appoint an unelected individual,” Jama said. He added that his role as Deputy Prime Minister carries significant national responsibilities, which sometimes prevented him from attending all sessions, but his absences were always justified under Article 59(d) of the Provisional Constitution.
Jama also denied claims that he had missed all Upper House sessions, asserting, “I have participated in several sessions of the Upper House as well as joint parliamentary meetings.”
Jama’s dismissal has sparked a major rift in the Upper House. Several senators, including Senator Osman Obokar Dubbe, have come to Jama’s defence, arguing that his absences were legitimate. Leading the opposition, Senator Osman Obokar Dubbe said that the decision to remove Jama “ignores his national duties and exceeds the constitutional powers of the Speaker.”
Speaker Hashi justified Jama’s removal by citing Article 59(a) of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, which mandates that senators lose their seats if they miss four consecutive sessions. The Speaker’s office also referenced the 2016 Indirect Elections Agreement, which governs the allocation of Senate seats for Somaliland and northern regions. Following these provisions, Hashi nominated Ibrahim Suleiman Idle, Jama’s competitor in the previous Senate election, as the next qualified candidate to fill the seat.
The Upper House has taken a firm stand by refusing to vote on Jama’s removal, forcing Speaker Hashi to delay the swearing-in of Idle, Jama’s proposed replacement.
Legal experts and political analysts are closely watching the situation. The situation has raised questions about the Speaker’s authority and whether such decisions can be made without wider Senate approval. Many senators believe Hashi’s actions set a dangerous precedent for executive interference in legislative matters.
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