The Foundation supports constitutional review by facilitating the consultation
The constitutional review institutions, namely, Oversight Committee (OC), Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission (ICRIC) & Ministry of Constitutional Affairs (MoCA), held a three-day consultative meeting on the third draft constitutional amendment document from the 23 to 25 March 2021. The meeting was held in Mogadishu and attended by representatives of Federal Member State constitutional review institutions of South West, Galmudug, and Hirshabelle. The Federal Member States of Jubaland and Puntland were invited but did not attend.
During the meeting, OC, ICRIC, and MoCA consulted the Federal Member States of Somalia on the constitutional review process. The meeting started with a joint presentation by OC, ICRIC, and MoCA to map the third draft constitutional amendment document’s main features and the follow-up processes to adopt the revised Constitution. OC, ICRIC, and MoCA noted their aim to submit a refined third draft constitutional amendment document, a handover report, rules of procedure governing the constitutional adoption process, and a draft bill on constitutional adoption for consideration of the upcoming 11th Federal Parliament.
The participants first requested clarifications on the third draft constitutional amendment document and its main features. Afterwards, the participating Federal Member States presented their view and feedback on key constitutional review issues. These submissions aim to inform the constitutional review institutions’ handover reports for the upcoming 11th Federal Parliament. In conclusion, the participants appreciated the opportunity to discuss the third draft constitutional amendment document, lessons learned, existent challenges, and the way forward.
The Max Planck Foundation’s technical and legal advisors attended the meeting and provided technical and legal advice on constitutional issues raised during the meeting. This forms part of the EU-funded project Legal Capacity Building and Technical Support for the Somali Federal Parliament which supports the constitutional review process in Somalia.