Somalia: New Petroleum law violates the Constitution – Puntland

Somalia’s autonomous state of Puntland has warned over the Federal government’s move to pass a new Petroleum law which has been drafted by the Ministry of Petroleum and submitted to the cabinet days ago.
A statement released by the Puntland Petroleum and Mineral Agency (PPMA) Director Issa Mohamoud Farah on Wednesday called for the government to ‘’withdraw’’ from processing the law, claiming that it is a violation to the provisional constitution of the country.
‘’This act is unconstitutional and PPMA will not accept or tolerate this continuous and flagrant constitutional violation. Furthermore, PPMA will never recognize any Petroleum Law drafted by an illegal ministry, that is passed by a Somali Executive branch which does not have the Constitutional power to pass it,’’ read the statement.
Mr Dholowa said that the new law is being pushed by foreign companies such as Soma Oil and Gas which is under investigation, following corruption accusations.
The Federal government has been at odds with the administrations in Puntland and Somaliland over responsibility for administering oil and gas activity, particularly as a number of companies signed deals with regional administrations in the years when Somalia suffered an absence of central government.
Read the full statement here
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