Questions are mounting over whether Somalia’s federal government will postpone the implementation of a constitutional provision requiring ministers who are also members of parliament to choose between the two positions.
The deadline for affected officials to decide between their ministerial posts and parliamentary seats expires today, October 14, under the constitutional provision governing the separation of the two roles.
However, the Council of Ministers approved a resolution during an emergency meeting on Tuesday night aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Constitution, raising questions about the government’s next steps.
The Cabinet said the Constitution is in force and that its implementation will proceed through different stages. It also appointed a ministerial committee tasked with accelerating implementation and preparing a draft law on the structure of the government within two months.
The resolution calls on government institutions to align their operations with constitutional provisions. It also provides for the preparation of legislation defining the number of ministries and their respective responsibilities.
The development comes as the deadline for officials holding both ministerial and parliamentary positions expires. It remains unclear whether the newly approved resolution will affect the previously established deadline or how the government intends to enforce the constitutional requirement.
Under the provision, ministers who are members of parliament must choose between serving in the Cabinet and retaining their parliamentary seats, requiring them to relinquish one of the two positions.
The government’s next decision is expected to clarify how the provision will be enforced and what steps will be taken regarding officials affected by the requirement.
Constitutional implementation remains at the centre of a broader political dispute between the federal government and several opposition groups, including the Puntland and Jubbaland administrations. They have criticised the constitutional amendment process and raised concerns over issues relating to the terms of federal institutions.
The key question remains: Will the government enforce the October 14 deadline, or will a new decision change the timeline?
