Six regional Chambers of Commerce in Somalia have rejected appointments made by the leadership of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, accusing it of bypassing established rules governing the selection of senior officials and warning that the dispute could undermine unity among the country’s business organisations.
In a joint statement reported by Horseed Media on Monday, October 12, the chambers from Puntland, Jubbaland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West State and Banadir Region challenged the appointments, arguing that the process did not comply with the procedures governing the administration and election of the national chamber’s leadership.
The disagreement centres on five positions reportedly filled through the disputed process, including three acting deputy chairpersons, a director-general and the chairperson of the Banadir Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The six chambers argued that the Federal Chamber’s leadership had made the appointments without following the applicable rules and procedures, raising questions about how senior officials should be selected and the role of regional chambers in determining the organisation’s leadership.
Five Appointments
According to the joint statement, the disputed appointments involved an acting first deputy chairperson, an acting second deputy chairperson and an acting third deputy chairperson.
The other positions were that of director-general of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairperson of the Banadir Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The regional chambers objected to both the appointments and the process through which they were made, saying the decisions were inconsistent with the procedures governing leadership selection and the administration of the national business organisation.
The report did not identify the individuals appointed to the five positions or provide details of the specific provisions allegedly breached.
It also did not include a response from the leadership of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry addressing the objections raised by the six chambers.
Six Chambers Warn of Threat to Unity
The chambers said the disputed appointments could damage trust, unity and cooperation among Somalia’s business organisations.
Their objection brings together chambers representing Puntland, Jubbaland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West State and Banadir Region, which have jointly called for the rules governing the national organisation to be respected.
The statement emphasised that the selection of the chamber’s leadership should follow a lawful process in which all member chambers have an opportunity to participate.
The dispute therefore extends beyond the individuals appointed to the positions, touching on the procedures through which the national chamber is governed and the involvement of its regional members in leadership decisions.
Calls for Review and Transparent Elections
The six chambers called for the disputed appointments to be reviewed, proposing that the organisation convene a formal consultative meeting involving its member chambers.
They also urged the establishment of a clear election process and timetable that would be transparent, fair and consistent with existing rules.
The proposed measures, they said, would help safeguard unity among Somali businesspeople and ensure that the organisation’s leadership enjoys legitimacy and the confidence of its members.
Their demands place the next steps in the dispute on the need for consultation, a review of the contested decisions and agreement on a process for selecting the organisation’s leadership.