Federal Parliament of Somalia
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| Federal Parliament of Somalia | |
|---|---|
 Thommy · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Federal Parliament of Somalia |
| Native name | Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya |
| Legislature | 11th Federal Parliament |
| House type | Bicameral |
| Established | 2012 |
| Leader1 type | Speaker of the House of the People |
| Leader1 | (see text) |
| Leader2 type | Speaker of the Senate |
| Leader2 | (see text) |
| Members | 329 (275 House of the People; 54 Senate) |
| Meeting place | Villa Hargeisa, Mogadishu |
| Website | (official site) |
Federal Parliament of Somalia is the national bicameral legislature located in Mogadishu, established under the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia as part of state reconstruction after the Somali Civil War and the end of the Transitional Federal Government. The body operates within a framework shaped by negotiations among Federal Member States of Somalia, international partners such as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia, and agreements including the Roadmap for the End of Transition. The Parliament engages with institutions like the Presidency of Somalia, the Supreme Court of Somalia, and the Independent Constitutional Commission in shaping national policy and law.
History
The legislature traces roots to the Somali Republic era institutions such as the Parliament of Somalia and pivotal events like the 1969 Somali coup d'état and the subsequent rule of Siad Barre, whose overthrow in 1991 precipitated the Somali Civil War and collapse of centralized authority. Efforts to reconstitute national institutions saw dialogues including the Arta Conference (2000) and the formation of the Transitional Federal Institutions culminating in the 2012 adoption of the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia and inauguration of the current bicameral Parliament during the Hassan Sheikh Mohamud administration and later sessions involving presidents such as Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and Farmaajo. International mediation by actors like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and states such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Turkey, and organizations including the European Union influenced timelines for elections, the creation of the Upper House (Senate) of Somalia and the distribution of seats among Federal Member States of Somalia and constituencies tied to clans and diaspora representation.
Composition and Membership
The legislature is bicameral, composed of the House of the People (Somalia) with 275 members and the Senate (Somalia) with 54 members, reflecting arrangements agreed in forums such as the Nairobi Conference (2010s), the Garowe Principles, and power-sharing accords among Puntland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West State of Somalia, and Jubaland. Membership includes figures from factions such as the Union of Islamic Courts era, technocrats educated at institutions like Somali National University and foreign universities, and politicians affiliated with parties akin to the Peace and Development Party and networks around leaders including Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Seats are allocated through a mix of clan-based selection influenced by the 4.5 formula, appointments from regional assemblies, and electoral processes involving committees modeled on practices from the Kenyan Parliament and the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives.
Powers and Functions
The Parliament holds constitutional authorities defined in the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia including approval of the Prime Minister of Somalia nominated by the President of Somalia, ratification of international agreements such as treaties with Turkey and trade accords with the European Union, passage of federal legislation, budget approval informed by the Ministry of Finance (Somalia), and oversight roles analogous to legislatures in the United Kingdom and United States Congress. It also plays roles in appointments to bodies like the National Independent Electoral Commission (Somalia), the Auditor General of Somalia, and confirmations for ministers and ambassadors, while interacting with accountability mechanisms seen in instruments like the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and anti-corruption initiatives supported by the World Bank.
Legislative Process
Bills can originate from members of the House of the People (Somalia), the Senate (Somalia), or the Council of Ministers (Somalia), with processes for readings, committee review, and amendment drawing on models from the Westminster system and regional parliaments such as the Ugandan Parliament and Rwandan Parliament. Passage requires majority votes in chambers, reconciliation of differences via joint committees reminiscent of practices in the Canadian Parliament, presidential assent analogous to procedures involving the President of Somalia, and potential adjudication by the Supreme Court of Somalia when constitutional questions arise. Legislative drafting utilizes expertise from international partners including legal teams from the United Nations Development Programme and comparative law inputs from institutions like the International Monetary Fund on fiscal legislation.
Committees and Leadership
Parliamentary work is organized through standing and ad hoc committees such as Finance and Budget, Foreign Affairs, Security and Defense, Justice and Constitutional Review, and Human Rights, staffed by members from the House of the People (Somalia) and the Senate (Somalia) with chairs often negotiated among party blocs and regional delegations similar to committee arrangements in the South African National Assembly. Leadership posts include the Speaker of the House, Deputy Speakers, the Speaker of the Senate, committee chairs, and whips, with notable officeholders emerging from political biographies entwined with figures like Omar Sharmarke and Moses Ali-style regional politicians. Committees liaise with bodies such as the National Security Council (Somalia), the Human Rights Commission of Somalia, and civil society organizations including Save the Children and Oxfam for oversight, hearings, and policy inputs.
Relationship with the Executive and Judiciary
The Parliament's relationship with the President of Somalia, the Prime Minister of Somalia, and the Council of Ministers (Somalia) involves checks and balances through confidence votes, ministerial confirmations, budgetary control, and oversight inquiries, comparable to interactions seen in the French Fifth Republic and Italian Parliament. Constitutional disputes between Parliament and the Supreme Court of Somalia or federal-member state judiciaries are resolved via the Constitutional Court (pending establishment) provisions in the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia and referral mechanisms used in international adjudications like the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. Cooperative frameworks extend to security collaboration with the African Union Mission in Somalia and development programming coordinated with donors such as the United Kingdom, United States Department of State, and multilaterals including the World Bank.