Government and constitutional review bodies sign MoU to jump-start process

L-R: Oversight Committee chair Abdi Qebydiid, Constitutional Affairs Minister Abdi Hosh and CRIC acting chair Abdallah Salah shake hands following signing of constitutional review and implementation process MoU Tuesday. Photo: Goobjoog News.

The Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Parliamentary Oversight Committee and the Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining their roles and working relationship in what could end long running feuds between the ministry and the two bodies.

The signing of the MoU Tuesday which marked a major step in resolving disputes between the Ministry and the two organs now paves way for the restart of the review and implementation process of the constitution which had stalled over the disputes.

Constitutional Affairs minister Abdi Hosh pledged his ministry willl honour the agreement and implement it accordingly. Oversight Committee chairman Abdi Qeybdiid and the Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission (CRIC) acting chairperson Abdalla Salah also expressed confidence and promised to abide by terms of the agreement.

The signing which was witnessed by House Speaker Mohamed Jawaari, Senate First Deputy Speaker Abshir Bukhari, PM Hassan Khaire and his deputy Mahdi Guled comes a month after the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs cancelled a constitutional conferences scheduled for October 10 as the two other bodies boycotted citing overstep by the ministry.

The Oversight Committee which draws membership from both Houses of Parliament and the CRIC had variously accused Hosh’s ministry of usurping their powers and conducting constitutional review activities unilaterally.

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A meeting between the House leaders, Oversight Committee and the Federal Government September failed to yield any settlement as the Ministry went ahead to convene the conference. Federal Member States (FMS) also announced they would give the conference a wide berth.

A meeting by President Mohamed Farmaajo and FMS leaders early this month resolved to re-start the review and implementation process noting the process must be completed by 2018 to pave way for the national referendum to formally adopt the new constitution.

The leaders witnessing yesterday’s signing of the MoU hailed the agreement and called for respect and adherence to the terms of the agreement.