On Sunday, more than 30 lawmakers who are members of the Somali bicameral parliament and hailing from Puntland were turned back to Mogadishu after their plane, en route to Garowe, was ordered to divert back to the capital. The MPs had flown to Garowe to attend a consultative conference called by Puntland President Saed Abdilahi Deni to discuss Somalia’s political gridlock. The meeting is scheduled to begin tomorrow. Some of the MPs who were turned back have accused the Somali Federal Government of violating their constitutional rights and immunity. They argue that this move is unfortunate as it prevents them from reaching their constituencies, which they were elected to represent. They see this as a political interference. The Somali Future Council has strongly condemned the government’s actions against the MPs. The council’s secretary general, Dr. Mohamed Adan Kofi, stated that the action was not in line with the country’s laws. He said, “I strongly condemn the blocking of the MPs, specifically those from Puntland. The plane was refused permission to continue its flight to Garowe, putting the lives of the MPs in danger.” Dr. Kofi also stated that this move indicates political pressure and called for the respect of the MPs’ rights and representation. He urged the country’s leadership to refrain from such actions that could lead to political tensions and have negative repercussions.
