Galmudug state and Alhusuna sign pact on expanded parliament

Galmudug state and the moderate Islamist group Alhusuna wal Jamaa Monday signed an agreement to establish an expanded parliament to accommodate the group three months after the two sides agreed to form a coalition government.

The details of the agreement remain scanty but State President Ahmed Haaf noted the two sides will unveil the framework on distribution of seats in the coming days. The current assembly is made up of 89 lawmakers and should they settle for a 50-50 pact then the state will have close to 200 MPs.

In the December 6 agreement which ended a tug of war between the two sides since the formation of Galmudug state in 2015, the deal mediated by the regional bloc IGAD saw Alhusuna get the post of chief minister. The sharing of state assembly seats would be done in accordance with clan distribution formula, the agreement indicated.

But a Galmudug state assembly lawmaker told Goobjoog News Tuesday the agreements did not take into consideration the building of state institutions making its implementation difficult.

“There is no concrete position on development of institutions of the state and rights of MPs. We passed a resolution that our salary will be $1000 but we haven’t received even a cent for one year now.”

Haaf announced yesterday the state assembly was now open for sessions but did not indicate where it would sit. Under the December agreement, the assembly would sit in Adado while the state capital would be moved to Dhusamareeb which had been designated in the state constitution. Alhusuna had maintained grip on Dhusamareeb until it entered into agreement with Galmudug state last year.

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