The Speaker of the Somaliland’s Upper House of Parliament known as Guurti, Mr. Suleiman Mohamud Adan, is expected to officially announce his resignation from the speakership as well as his membership of the parliament after he led the House for 22 years.
A spokesman who spoke on behalf of the Speaker has revealed that the Speaker has taken a final decision, and has informed Somaliland President, Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro about his decision to vacate the position. Sources close to the speaker said that various efforts which are aimed at postponing or reversing the decision ended in vain while he insisted on his decision to resign from the speakership.
It is expected that members of the Upper House of Parliament will convene an extraordinary meeting where he will officially announce his resignation. Mr. Suleiman is 92 years old, and has held the position since 2004. He is one of the longest serving politicians in Somaliland. Sources close to him further disclosed that the main reason that he is vacating the position is due to his old age. He also wants to take a rest from the heavy duties that he has been in charge of.
During his tenure as the Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament, Mr. Suleiman played a significant role in resolving political disputes and strengthening dialogue between political parties in Somaliland. His supporters commended that he played a crucial role in safeguarding the stability and the prevention of political tensions that occurred multiple times.
On the other hand, the Speaker and the Upper House of Parliament came under sharp criticism from the opposition, civil society organizations and political analysts. Most of the criticism that was subjected to the House of Elders were term extension made for the successive governments as well as the parliament. The other allegations against the Upper House of Parliament is that it failed to discharge its constitutional duties including playing an active role in the pacification and reconciliation efforts in the country.
Somaliland standard
