Wednesday April 30, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Hirshabelle State Parliament has suspended three lawmakers for one term, accusing them of misconduct and breaching parliamentary rules.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Parliament’s Committee on Rules, Ethics, Immunity, and Member Welfare said the lawmakers—Ahmed Saneey Mohamed, Saadaq Mukhtar Abdulle, and Ahmed Ali Abukar—were found to have made public remarks and social media posts that tarnished the reputation of fellow MPs and violated the legislature’s code of conduct.
The suspension bars the lawmakers from participating in parliamentary sessions and receiving stipends during the current legislative term.
MP Ahmed Saneey dismissed the accusations, saying he first saw the suspension letter circulating on social media and had not been formally informed. In an interview with Shabelle TV, he accused Hirshabelle President Ali Gudlawe of orchestrating the move to silence dissent.
“This is a public relations stunt meant to show that the administration is functioning,” Saneey said. “There is no active parliament. The chamber is used for seminars, and lawmakers haven’t received their stipends for months.”
He further alleged that the disciplinary letter was not issued by a functioning committee but was drafted by staff in the president’s office, bypassing parliamentary procedure.
The Hirshabelle leadership has not publicly responded to Saneey’s claims. Hirshabelle is one of Somalia’s five federal member states. Its regional institutions have struggled with limited resources, infrequent legislative activity, and ongoing threats from the militant group Al-Shabaab.