MOGADISHU (SD) -Members of the two Houses of the Federal Parliament of Somalia who today held a meeting at the Villa Hargeisa have approved by a majority to amend some of the provisions of the Federal Constitution of Somalia.

Today’s session of the two Houses that approved the amendment of the Constitution was attended by 254 parliamentarians including the members of the two Houses of the People’s Assembly and the Upper House.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, who was presiding over the meeting, asked the members to approve or reject the amendment of four chapters of the Constitution.

The amendment to the Constitution was approved unanimously by all the members of the two Houses, No lawmakers abstained or rejected the amendment.

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, praised the Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia for their approval of the draft of the 4 chapters of the Federal Constitution of Somalia, which was worked on by the two Committees that review the Constitution.

However, the amendment of the constitution was opposed by former Presidents and Prime Ministers, among them, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and Hassan Ali Kheyre. Politicians, parliamentarians, and the President of the Puntland state also opposed it.

The human rights advocacy organization Human Rights Watch issued a statement yesterday urging the Somali Parliament not to vote for a constitution that undermines the rights of children.