MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Opposition MPs at Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament have said they will choose a new speaker, just a day after session held to extend the president’s term ended in chaos on Saturday.
The speaker Mohamed Mursal issued a statement saying that 15 MPs had been banned from attending the next five sessions due to their alleged participation in the chaos that forced Mr Mursal to leave parliament headquarters.
The opposition MPs have announced on Sunday that the decision will not be able to stop them from normally participating in the forthcoming sessions.
Speaking to BBC Somali, parliamentarian Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig – who is among the MPs suspended from attending parliament sessions – said they will soon hold a meeting to elect a new speaker, accusing Mohamed Mursal of being a campaigner for president Farmajo, whose term ended nearly two months ago.
“We will not fight but we will pursue [our objectives] through legal avenues and it has no problem to see two parallel meetings held by parliament. We will hold a meeting to elect a new speaker and will continue working,” parliamentarian Hidig said in an interview with BBC Somali.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
