Fistfights erupt in Somali parliament as lawmakers clash over constitutional amendments
The session was attended by 180 members of the House of the People and 31 senators from the Upper House.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) — Somalia’s bicameral parliament descended into chaos on Wednesday after fierce opposition to proposed constitutional amendments triggered shouting matches, torn documents and physical clashes among lawmakers during a joint session in Mogadishu.
The meeting, convened to distribute and discuss the agenda for adopting amendments to several chapters of the provisional constitution, was chaired by Speaker of the House of the People Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur, known as Madobe, alongside First Deputy Speaker of the Upper House Ali Shabaan Ibrahim.
Instead of procedural debate, the session quickly unraveled amid loud protests from opposition lawmakers who reject the government’s push to amend the charter.
Witnesses said lawmakers opposed to the agenda tore up official papers as the speaker arrived, shouting objections and disrupting proceedings. Scuffles later broke out on the chamber floor, with several lawmakers reportedly exchanging punches as tensions spiraled out of control.
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Among those involved in the altercation were Senator Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag, Somalia’s minister of internal security, and MP Hassan Firinbi, both elected from the Jubbaland regional state, parliamentary sources said.
Despite the disorder, officials said the session was attended by 180 members of the House of the People and 31 senators from the Upper House. Lawmakers from both chambers were presented with a report outlining proposed amendments to Chapters 5 through 9 of the constitution, as well as a briefing on suggested changes to Articles 49, 50 and 54 under Chapter 4.
Opposition lawmakers argue that the current provisional constitution cannot be amended under existing political and security conditions. They accuse the presidency and parliamentary leadership of attempting to push through constitutional changes without sufficient public consultation or broad parliamentary consensus.
The proposed amendments have been under discussion for months and sit at the heart of Somalia’s wider political standoff, which has pitted the federal government against segments of the opposition and some regional leaders. Critics fear the changes could alter the balance of power between the center and federal member states.
In a statement issued after the tumultuous session, the speaker’s office said members of both houses had formally received documentation detailing the proposed amendments to Chapters 5 to 9, along with a summary of changes proposed to Articles 49, 50 and 54 of Chapter 4.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.