Chaos erupts in Somali Parliament over MP's ouster, Speaker faces impeachment bid
The session turned chaotic after opposition lawmakers introduced a motion of no confidence against Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madoobe.
A session of Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament was disrupted on Saturday following a contentious debate over the removal of MP Abdullahi Hashi Abiib.
His seat was declared vacant last month due to what the Speaker described as repeated absences without justification.
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The session turned chaotic after opposition MPs introduced a motion of no confidence against Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madoobe.
They accused the Speaker of violating legislative procedures by revoking Dr Abdullahi’s parliamentary immunity without going through proper channels.
The speaker rejected the motion, calling it unlawful and claimed that such actions could subject him to legal risk. "This motion is against the rules of Parliament," he said.
He also accused the MPs behind the motion of attempting to derail parliamentary proceedings.
The chamber quickly descended into disorder. Heated arguments broke out among members, leading to an abrupt adjournment of the session.
Security personnel were present as MPs shouted and pointed fingers across the chamber.
MP Asho Koos, a supporter of the impeachment motion, said the issue was not about defending Abdullahi's personally stating that the focus was on maintaining institutional standards.
“The Speaker misrepresented the law,” she said. “As a member of the Rules Committee, I can confirm we were neither consulted nor involved. This undermines parliamentary standards.”
MP Dahir Amin Jeesow also spoke against the Speaker’s actions. He said decisions of such nature must follow established parliamentary procedures.
“Parliament cannot operate outside the boundaries of its own laws,” he told reporters following the session.
The controversy began on March 15, when Speaker Sheikh Adan announced that Abdullahi had lost his seat. The Speaker cited his failure to attend two consecutive sessions without providing a reason.
The declaration was made without an official review by the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures.
Abdullahi has previously been outspoken in his criticism of the Somali government. He has made public accusations of corruption and shared his findings with international organisations.
He has also published writings on governance and accountability. Abdullahi has claimed that threats from Somali officials have prevented him from returning to Mogadishu in recent months.
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