Somali police seize control of parliament; lawmakers report threats of lethal force
MOGADISHU, Feb. 7 — Armed police units took control of Somalia’s Federal Parliament main hall on Saturday, paralyzing proceedings as lawmakers said officers threatened to open fire on anyone attempting to speak and a female representative was physically assaulted during a chaotic standoff.
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Witnesses and parliamentary sources said police deployed inside the House of the People imposed extraordinary restrictions that blocked members of parliament from approaching the microphones without “explicit authorization.” Several lawmakers said officers warned that those who tried to address the chamber would be shot. The measures effectively halted the session and sparked an immediate political outcry.
The Banadir Regional Police Commander, Moalim Mahdi, was seen outside the hall and was alleged by multiple sources to be coordinating the operation. Opposition figures condemned the move as a partisan intervention aimed at shielding the president’s political interests from legislative scrutiny, though those claims could not be independently verified.
Tensions inside the chamber escalated into violence when federal police allegedly assaulted a female lawmaker. The reported attack is the second instance in recent months in which female representatives have faced physical abuse or intimidation within the parliamentary complex, prompting renewed concerns about the safety of elected officials and the integrity of parliamentary processes.
Constitutional experts and lawmakers described the intervention as a direct breach of parliamentary independence. One legislator, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, said security forces had moved beyond their mandate to protect the legislature and instead acted as a tool for political silencing.
Somalia’s legislature has long been a focal point for the country’s delicate political transition, and Saturday’s confrontation deepened anxieties about eroding democratic norms amid ongoing security pressures. The reported threats of lethal force inside the national assembly underscored the severity of the moment and the risks facing lawmakers as they attempt to carry out routine oversight and legislative duties.
- Police units deployed inside the House of the People, halting proceedings, witnesses said.
- Lawmakers reported threats that anyone speaking without authorization would be shot.
- A female lawmaker was allegedly assaulted, the second such incident in recent months.
- Banadir Police Commander Moalim Mahdi was seen outside, accused of coordinating the operation.
- Opposition figures denounced the move as partisan overreach into the legislative branch.
- Constitutional experts warned of a serious violation of parliament’s independence.
The Somali Police Force and the Office of the President did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the alleged threats and the reported assault. It was not clear late Saturday whether further parliamentary sessions would proceed under heightened security or be postponed amid the political fallout.
The confrontation has raised alarms both domestically and internationally for a country navigating a fragile transition while contending with significant security challenges. The immediate questions now concern accountability for the assault, who authorized the deployment inside the chamber, and whether safeguards will be put in place to ensure lawmakers can convene and speak without fear of violence.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
