MOGADISHU - The Federal Parliament of Somalia held a joint session on Saturday at the House of the People headquarters in Mogadishu to begin the second phase of constitutional review, specifically examining Chapter Six of the provisional constitution.
The session was chaired by Ali Shacbaan Ibraahim, First Deputy Speaker of the Upper House, alongside Abdullaahi Cumar Abshiroow, Second Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, and the Second Deputy Speaker of the Upper House.
Parliamentary committees from both chambers responsible for constitutional oversight, along with the Independent Commission for Constitutional Review and Implementation, presented detailed reports on Chapter Six to the attending legislators.
A central focus of the discussions centered on the structure of the Council of Representatives (Golaha Wakiilada) within Federal Member States. According to the proposals under review, regional assemblies would maintain a membership threshold ranging between 60 and 90 representatives, with the maximum set at 90 and minimum at 60.
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Lawmakers raised concerns regarding variations in district numbers across different states, noting that some regions comprise seven districts while others contain up to twenty. They emphasized that since political positions are contested based on these calculations, allowing states to create unlimited districts could lead to political imbalances and tensions during elections.
The session also addressed procedural challenges in documenting parliamentary proceedings. Officials noted difficulties faced by young staff members in accurately recording which specific constitutional articles MPs wished to address during debates. While some legislators registered to speak on Chapter Six during the current session, approximately twenty others indicated they would participate when discussions move to Chapter Two.
To improve efficiency, the Speaker's office proposed that rather than dividing entire chapters for debate, MPs should specify particular articles—such as Article 80, 84, or 90—when registering to speak. This approach would facilitate accurate minute-taking while protecting members' rights to express opinions on specific provisions.
Ali Shacbaan Ibraahim, who presided over the closing of the session, confirmed that formal debates on Chapter Six have officially commenced and will continue in subsequent meetings. He acknowledged technical delays regarding attendance lists but assured members that discussions would resume promptly.
The constitutional review process represents a critical step toward finalizing Somalia's governance framework as the country continues its federalization process.
Reporter: Ibraahim Guudle Isxaaq, Somali National Television, Mogadishu.