In a significant boost to Somaliland’s legislative framework, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honorable Saed Mire Farah ‘Giirre’, presided over a formal handover of law books provided by the Max Planck Foundation (MPF) at the House of Representatives’ Library. This initiative, fully funded by the European Commission, marks another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between MPF and Somaliland’s legislative institutions.
The books, procured through an EU-funded initiative and facilitated by MPF, were formally presented at the HoR Library in the presence of key figures from both houses of the Somaliland bicameral legislature.
MPF’s partnership with Somaliland’s Parliament has been ongoing for nearly four years, focusing on legislative reforms and procedural enhancements. The foundation’s engagement began with a thorough needs assessment of the House of Representatives, which led to the formulation of a support program financed by the European Union.
Jan Schmidt, the Head of MPF’s Somaliland/Somalia Project, highlighted the remarkable progress made over the years. He recalled the initial visit to the parliamentary library and emphasized the importance of knowledge repositories for lawmakers. Through this collaboration, MPF has facilitated the procurement of critical legal literature, helping to strengthen the foundation of Somaliland’s legislative processes.
“We sincerely hope that this new legal literature will aid members of parliament in shaping Somaliland’s legal framework more effectively, ensuring long-term benefits for the nation’s governance,” said Schmidt during the ceremony. He also expressed MPF’s commitment to sustaining and expanding this initiative in the future.
MPF’s assistance extends beyond book donations. Under this EU-funded project, the foundation has provided technical legal support, comparative legal research for parliamentary committees, and essential translations of legal documents. Other key contributions include:
- The development of a comprehensive legal glossary.
- A legislative drafting manual to streamline lawmaking processes.
- A series of twelve capacity-building workshops for members of parliament.
- Training of Trainers (ToT) programs to create sustainable internal expertise.
- Stakeholder consultations to refine legislative procedures.
Hon. Saed Mire Farah, in his address, conveyed his deep appreciation for MPF’s efforts, recognizing the pivotal role the foundation has played in elevating Somaliland’s legislative standards. He emphasized the need to complete the Joint Rules of Procedure to enhance cooperation between the House of Representatives and the House of Elders, further solidifying the country’s parliamentary efficiency.
The partnership between MPF and Somaliland’s Parliament, with the unwavering backing of the European Union, is a testament to the power of international cooperation in state-building efforts. As Somaliland continues to refine its legal and parliamentary structures, sustained engagement from partners like MPF will remain crucial.
With commitments from both MPF and the European Union to continue this work, Somaliland’s lawmakers are better equipped to navigate the complexities of governance, ensuring a more robust, transparent, and accountable legislative process for years to come.
The handover ceremony was attended by key figures from both the House of Representatives and the House of Elders, including the EU Somaliland Head of Office, Adnan Suleiman, the House Deputy Secretary-General, Jamal Jama Hassan, Department Directors, and the House Advisor on Development Partnerships and Intra-Parliamentary Relations, Prof. Hassan Heiss. The event underscored the commitment of international partners to enhancing Somaliland’s legal and parliamentary capacities.
Lawyers Ibrahim Jama and Guled Jama of the Somaliland MPF office were also present alongside Dr. MOhamoud Hussein, Nina, and Abdikadir Osman of the MPF Head and regional offices, present, also contributed much to the success of the stocking of the HoR Library.
