Hargeisa, Somaliland – The Attorney General of Somaliland has called for the impeachment of Member of Parliament (MP) Mohamed Abib, citing allegations that he met with officials from the Somali Embassy in Djibouti and discussed issues pertaining to the Somaliland forces. This request has sparked significant controversy and debate within Somaliland’s political sphere.
The second deputy chairman of Somaliland’s House of Representatives, Ali Hamud Jibril, while speaking to the BBC said that the letter from the Attorney General had indeed been received by the House. MP Abib, who traveled to Djibouti in late May, reportedly met with Djibouti’s Finance Minister Ilyas Dawaleh. In a Facebook post, Abib shared a photo with the minister and discussed the progress of a project intended to connect Somaliland and Djibouti.
In an interview with MMTV, a television station based in Hargeisa, Abib mentioned that he sought a passport for Djibouti. However, he refrained from providing detailed information about the accusations against him when contacted by the BBC.
Legal experts have weighed in on the situation, expressing concerns over the validity of the charges. Lawyer Mohamed Abdi Afyare argued that meeting with members of the Somali Embassy in Djibouti and discussing military issues do not constitute sufficient grounds for removing an MP’s immunity. Afyare emphasized that MPs have the right to discuss national policies and military matters.
“These issues alone are not enough to accuse a member of parliament in order to remove his immunity,” Afyare stated. “The details of what was discussed with the embassy, whether it was anti-national, need to be clarified.”
Afyare further noted that the dismissal of a member of the House of Representatives requires the consent of the House, indicating that the process involves multiple layers of approval.
The House of Representatives is currently on vacation, and opinions on the matter are divided. Ali Hamud Jibril acknowledged that the council does not have a unanimous stance on the issue. He indicated that the council will address the matter when it reconvenes after the vacation.
This controversy unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Somaliland and Djibouti. Recently, Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi accused Djibouti of harboring a rebellion threatening Somaliland, an accusation Djibouti’s leaders have vehemently denied. Djibouti maintains that it supports peace in the Horn of Africa.
