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The Wadajir Party, led by Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, has strongly criticized the ongoing process of selecting members for Somalia’s Independent Human Rights Commission. In a statement released on Monday, the party accused the Office of the President of interfering in what should be an independent and transparent selection process.
According to Wadajir, the involvement of the Presidency in appointing members to the commission threatens the commission’s independence. The party stressed that the body must remain free from political influence in order to effectively promote justice, equality, accountability, and reconciliation in Somalia.
The Independent Human Rights Commission is expected to take over from the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights in Somalia. Its formation is a key step in developing Somalia’s own institutions to protect and uphold human rights in line with the national Constitution and international standards.
Wadajir raised concerns that the current process lacks transparency and fairness. They argued that the Presidency’s role in choosing commission members goes against the principles of independence and could result in a biased commission that serves political interests rather than the Somali people.
The party called for the immediate suspension of the current selection process. They urged that the process be restructured in a way that fully respects Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, the Law of the House of the People, and international human rights laws.
Wadajir emphasized that the Somali Parliament and civil society organizations—not the Executive Branch—should be responsible for selecting members of the Human Rights Commission. They warned that allowing the Executive to dominate the process could damage public trust and weaken the credibility of the institution before it even begins its work.
Their statement came shortly after examinations were conducted in Mogadishu for candidates applying to be part of the commission. These exams were supervised by the Ministry of Family and Human Rights, along with other government and civil society representatives.
However, Wadajir believes that the involvement of the Executive in this stage of the process already compromises its neutrality. They say that civil society and lawmakers should have full control to ensure the Commission serves its intended purpose—protecting the rights of all Somalis without political bias.
This latest development highlights growing friction between opposition parties and the federal government, especially around critical national matters such as constitutional reforms, upcoming elections, and the creation of independent public institutions. The Wadajir Party’s statement reflects a broader concern that political interference in key state-building processes could slow down Somalia’s progress and erode the public’s confidence in new institutions meant to support democracy and justice.
In summary, the Wadajir Party wants the current process to be paused and reviewed, arguing that only a fully independent and transparent selection process can create a commission that truly defends human rights in Somalia.