Somalia’s Parliament Suspends Six More Lawmakers Over Disruptions, Escalating Constitutional Standoff
Monday, February 9, 2026
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s parliamentary leadership suspended six more lawmakers from the House of the People on Monday, accusing them of disrupting proceedings during a contentious joint sitting as a high-stakes fight over proposed constitutional amendments widens and deepens political rifts in Mogadishu.
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The decision, issued by Acting Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, cites violations of the House’s Rules of Procedure under Articles 14, 16 and 28. The leadership said the suspensions stem from actions taken during a joint session of the two chambers on Feb. 7 that undermined order and obstructed legislative work amid heated debate on changes to the Provisional Constitution.
In an official statement, Abshirow framed the move as a step to preserve parliamentary integrity rather than a punitive measure aimed at individual lawmakers. “The purpose of this decision is to protect the order and proper functioning of the House of the People and to prevent further disruption of parliamentary work,” he said.
The lawmakers barred from attending sessions are:
- Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame
- Abdifatah Muse Nur (Sanyare)
- Abdikadir Hussein Abdi (Urdox)
- Said Dahir Ismail
- Ahmed Abdi Koshin
- Abdishakur Ali Mire
Abshirow warned that additional disciplinary steps could follow if disruptions continue, urging all members to respect the chamber’s rules and their responsibilities to the Somali public. The suspensions come just days after parliamentary leaders barred another group of legislators for repeatedly disrupting sessions — a sequence of actions that has drawn criticism from opposition figures and further strained relations within the legislature.
The disciplinary escalation unfolds against the backdrop of a deepening dispute over proposed amendments to Somalia’s Provisional Constitution. The federal government argues the reforms are necessary to complete a long-delayed constitutional review and stabilize governance structures. Critics — including lawmakers in both chambers, opposition coalitions and the federal member states of Puntland State and Jubbaland — contend the changes risk concentrating power in Mogadishu at the expense of the country’s fragile federal system.
Parliamentary sittings in recent weeks have been repeatedly marred by procedural standoffs and verbal confrontations, reflecting the broader polarization over Somalia’s constitutional future. The leadership’s emphasis on security, discipline and the dignity of the House underscores the challenge of advancing a complex legal overhaul while preserving parliamentary norms.
While supporters of the amendments see a chance to clarify the division of powers and push through long-stalled reforms, opponents warn that rushing changes without broad consensus could exacerbate mistrust among federal member states and fuel political instability. The clash has now spilled onto the floor of parliament, where order has become the immediate battleground.
It was not immediately clear when regular proceedings would resume without interruption or whether additional votes related to the constitutional review would be scheduled in the near term. For now, the leadership’s latest suspensions signal a hardening stance from the top of the House of the People as Somalia weighs consequential choices about how it is governed — and who holds the balance of power.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
