Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and parliamentary speaker Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur have held talks aimed at easing tensions between their offices following a dispute over government appointments and executive powers.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre held talks with parliamentary speaker Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur on Sunday, as tensions between the two offices have intensified over the division of powers and government appointments.
The meeting brought together Hamza and Nur, widely known as Jamaac, to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between the executive and parliament and advancing what the two officials described as national priorities.
The two officials also discussed issues that had contributed to the recent dispute between their offices, according to Jamaac, who issued a brief statement after the meeting.
Jamaac said the discussions focused on upholding the constitution, the rule of law and established administrative practices.
“I extend my great thanks to the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, who visited me today for a working meeting aimed at accelerating cooperation between the two houses to achieve national objectives and state-building based on respect for the constitution, the rule of law and established administrative practices,” Jamaac said.
The meeting came after a dispute erupted between the speaker’s office and the prime minister over a parliamentary decision concerning a directive issued by Hamza on the appointment of department directors in government ministries and other state institutions.
Hamza had ordered that such positions be filled through a competitive recruitment process, part of broader efforts by his administration to introduce merit-based appointments in government institutions.
Parliament subsequently moved to overturn the directive, prompting a public dispute between the legislative leadership and the prime minister’s office over their respective authority.
The disagreement became increasingly visible over the past week, with the two sides taking opposing positions on the government’s authority to regulate appointments within ministries and public institutions.
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The latest meeting appeared aimed at easing tensions between the two senior officials, although neither side announced a detailed agreement on the disputed appointment process.
The dispute has emerged at a politically sensitive period for Somalia, where disagreements over constitutional arrangements, elections and the distribution of powers among federal institutions have already strained relations among political actors.
The roles of parliament and the executive have also come under increased scrutiny as the government pursues political and institutional reforms ahead of planned elections.
Under Somalia’s federal system, parliament exercises legislative and oversight functions, while the executive, headed by the prime minister, is responsible for implementing government policy and managing the administration.
The recent dispute over senior civil service appointments has therefore raised broader questions about the boundaries between legislative oversight and executive authority.
Neither Hamza nor Jamaac publicly disclosed details of any specific compromise reached during Sunday’s meeting.
Jamaac’s statement, however, stressed the importance of cooperation between the two institutions and adherence to constitutional and legal principles.
The meeting between the prime minister and speaker could provide an avenue for further discussions aimed at preventing the dispute from escalating, although the underlying disagreement over institutional powers remains significant.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
