Somali Congress of Trade Unions (SOCOTU) held its 2nd Congress.
Representatives from affillitate unions have attended the 2nd Congress for the Somali Congress of
Trade Unions (SOCOTU) held in Mogadishu on 26th and 27th April, 2016.
Members of other civil society organizations were also present. Present was also the director of the
Ministry of Works of the Somali Federal Government, Hon. Mohamed Adde Muqtar together with the
director of the Department of Works Abrizak Ma’alim Elmi.
The Parliamentry Commission for the Public Affairs led by its secretary MP, Abdullahi Omar
Abshirow was not left behind same as the secretary of Parliamenty Commisssion for Judicial Affairs,
MP Mohamed Amin as well as the secretary of Parliamentry Commisssion for Finance, MP. Osman
Haji Ali and the secretary of Parliamentry Commisssion for Constitution Review, member of
parliament Hon. Ibrahim Deyfulah not to forget MP, Ahmed Omar Islow who was also present at the
venue of the Congress.
Right after the opening speech, the election of the for the Somali Congress of Trade Unions
(SOCOTU) has been ambarked. The chair of the electoral commission, Mr. Hassan Jim’aale
summoned the candidates for the posts of chairpersonship and position of secretary and other bord of
the directors
The chair of the electoral commission announced that Mr. Mohamed Osman Haji Ali who is the
incubent SOCOTU chairperson and Abukar Salad Hassan were the candidates for the chairpersonship,
while two other cadidates namely Ahmed Hassan Omar and Aweys Abdirahman Abdullahi were
contesting for the post of SOCOTU secretary.
The chair of the electoral commission also announced that the envoys that were about to vote were 119
in number. There was a ballot box availed. He added that the voting for the other executive SOCOTU
members would be by raise of hand.
After the voting was concluded, the counting of the votes was done. Consequently, The chair of the
electoral commission announced the results. For the chairpersonship, Mohamed Osman Haji Ali won
after garnering 98 votes beating his contender, Mr. Abukar Salad Hassan who has only gotten a total
number of votes of 18. Three ballot papers got spoilt.
Ahmed Hassan Omar was voted in for the post of the secretary by show of hands in a land slide
victory which was unoppsed after getting endorsement from his opponent, Mr. Aweys who withdrew
from the race!
The reelected chair of SOCOTU, Mr. Mohamed Osman who briefly took to the podium sensitized the
somali workers to upheld solidarity amongest themselves adding that the Somali workers need to
enhance productivity in the different lines so as to overcome the dependence on foreign products.
He also appealed to the Federal Government of Somalia to protect the rights of the Somali workers.
The new secretary elect for SOCOTU, Mr. Ahmed Hassan Omar who seconded him reitrated that he
was very happy and excited about the post he was elected to and pledged that he will develop the
workers of Somalia. He asserted that he would fight the people abroad who falsely claim to be
representing the Somali workers. He pointed out that the Somali workers can bear positive results
from their vision.
2
Hon. Osman Elmi Guuleed, the Chief Justice of the nation who delivered a speech there said the
Somali workers are independent from the government and are self-determining workers.
On the other hand, the secretary of the of Parliamenty Commisssion for Judicial Affairs, MP
Mohamed Amin congratulated the reelected SOCOTU chairperson and the new secretary of the same
adding that it is worthwhile to enshrine the workers’ laws into the current Somali draft constitution
citing that the workers’ laws in it at presence are not adequate.
Finally, the secretary of the of Parliamenty Commisssion for Public Affairs MP, Abdullahi Omar
Abshirow spoke and pointed it out that they have seen free and fair election there. He also called for
the youths in the country to participate in the political leadership in the country concluding that his
commission will work closely with the Somali Congress of Trade Unions.