Farmaajo to preside over Senate re-opening today

President Mohamed Farmaajo will today preside over the opening of the 5th session of the Senate after about two and half months recess.

The 54 member chamber resumes business a week after the Lower House opened. Key among the urgent issues is the security situation in the country which has in the recent months deteriorated.

Critical for both houses is the passage of the Elections Act which should provide the framework for the 2020 elections. The Petroleum Amendment Bill is also another crucial bill awaiting legislators. The Bill is supposed to provide a clearer legal framework for the exploitation of oil resources in the country.

According to a timeline released during the London oil conference in February, Somalia is expecting to ink the final drilling agreements with oil investors in January 2020.

The Water Bill is currently in the Senate.