Last Updated: Mar 23, 2008 - 2:18:35 AM Somalia Somalia:...

Last Updated: Mar 23, 2008 - 2:18:35 AM

Somalia

Somalia: Puntland Parliament Speaker wants oil law revote
22 Mar 22, 2008 - 9:08:16 PM



GAROWE, Somalia Mar 22 (Garowe Online) - The Speaker of parliament in Somalia's self-governing state of Puntland has asked President Adde Muse to return the oil law back to parliament for a revote, according to inside sources.

Ahmed Ali Hashi, the Speaker, made the request after many members of parliament exerted pressure on him to stand up to the administration, an MP who did not want to be named told Garowe Online.

On Wednesday, Puntland MPs voted on the controversial oil law introduced by the Muse administration, with 21 MPs voting "yes," 21 MPs voting "no," and six MPs abstaining from the vote.


Ahmed Ali Hashi, Speaker of Puntland Parliament
But Speaker Hashi used his "casting vote" authority to break the 21-21 tie, a move many MPs said was "illegal" because it can only be used after lawmakers vote on the same issue two times and the vote remains even. [ READ: Oil law divides Puntland lawmakers]

Some MPs even threatened to introduce a motion to unseat the Speaker, following his "illegal" move to ratify the oil law, as President Muse and members of his Cabinet claim.

Muse has refused to accept Speaker Hashi's suggestion for a revote and has maintained that the oil law, which Hashi signed, has been ratified and is legal, the source added.

Sources in the Puntland capital Garowe said representatives from Africa Oil Corp. were in town when the lawmakers voted on the oil law. [ READ: Africa Oil Corp. representatives visit Puntland]

The same sources suggested that the Muse administration was under tremendous pressure to pass the oil law, so that the company's officials can display the signed document to investors and would-be investors regarding its legality.

But the legality of President Muse's oil law is not limited to Puntland alone and has ramifications for Somalia as a whole.

Federal government officials, including Energy Minister Mohamud Ali Salah, have called on the Puntland government to immediately and unconditionally stop the exploration effort. [ READ: Energy Minister Rejects Puntland Oil Law]

On Saturday, a policy statement signed by President Muse was published by the Puntland government Web site, PuntlandGovt.com, whereby Muse effectively stated that the region "shall remain independent" of Somalia until a federal constitution is passed and state governments instituted across the country. [ READ: 'Puntland shall remain independent' of Somalia: Puntland President]

Since 2005, Muse has made exploration of the region's natural resources the single most important issue of his reign, although he continues to face stiff resistance from many quarters.

Analysts say it is very difficult for any company to conduct exploration in Somalia, a costly endeavor in a chaotic Horn of Africa country where armed clans are more powerful than the government.

Source: Garowe Online