*Unfortunately, Speaker Mursal does not even understand the role of the Somali federal parliament that he is currently leading*. Reading the letter he issued and signed earlier today, he does not even have the slightest clue about the function of a parliament in a democratic system. Tragically, he does not seem to know even the basics about the concept of *separation of powers*.

Briefly stated, the parliament is the *legislative branch*. In other words, the parliament legislates or if you like, writes new laws, amends old once or may completely annul laws that are no longer deemed useful. It is the *judiciary branch* (Courts) that are supposed to, among other things, interpret the laws of the land. *The executive is the branch* that does the day-to-day operations of the government.

*The tragedy is that Speaker Mursal is criticizing the executive branch without knowing his role and the function of the federal parliament* under the interim Somali federal constitution and other applicable laws and procedures. He is doing exactly what he is criticizing the PM for. 

Regardless of whether the PM followed the procedures required under the interim Somali federal constitution or not, *Mursal cannot assume the role of the judiciary branch and enforce the laws of the land on his own*. *That is not his job*. And the provisional federal constitution clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of the three branches. As the saying goes "Charity begins at home”, thus, he must do master his role before he points his finger at others.

It is *disturbing and it is demoralizing* to see the head of the Somali federal parliament with such *limited understanding* of the role and the function of the federal parliament.

I would respectfully advise Mursal to make necessary arrangements and to learn the basics of the function and role of the parliament in a democratic and federated system like Somalia.

Mukhtar Ainashe

Oslo, Norway