The Somali Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke is trying to have the President arrested. The president has refused to step down and nominates a new prime minister in an attempt to stay in his position. Sharmarke’s government says it will give up power only if its demands are met – including another election and not having the president removed from office with no clear motive for doing so.
The “somalia capital” is a power struggle between the Somali President and Prime Minister, which threatens to create a fight against extremists.
NAIROBI— On Monday, a power struggle erupted in Somalia, with the president suspending the prime minister and the latter stating that he would take over the presidency, threatening to derail the country’s campaign against Islamist militants.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, often known as Farmajo, declared that Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble will be stripped of his responsibilities due to allegations of corruption.
Mr. Mohamed’s decree said, “The Prime Minister’s duties and powers remain suspended till the completion of the current investigations.”
He claims Mr. Roble was involved in a plot to infringe on Somali army property and that Mr. Roble obstructed the inquiry into his alleged misconduct.
The prime minister’s spokeswoman did not reply to a request for comment on the charges of wrongdoing.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, sometimes known as Farmajo, of Somalia, in May.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images/abdirahman yusuf
Mr. Mohamed was referred to as “former president” in a video speech by Mr. Roble, who accused him of “a purposeful effort to subvert the government, the constitution, and the laws of the nation.”
Mr. Roble said that his office will be in charge of all government tasks, including military command.
According to Mr. Roble, Mr. Mohamed “cannot issue commands to the armed forces, and they cannot receive orders from him.”
In a text message to The Wall Street Journal, a Roble spokeswoman indicated that Mr. Roble “continues his everyday tasks as usual.”
The pandemonium earned a condemnation from the United States, which released a statement Monday encouraging Somali officials to “de-escalate tensions in Mogadishu, desist from provocative measures, and avoid bloodshed.”
Internal political squabbles among the US’ Somali partners have alarmed al-Shabaab, the local al Qaeda affiliate, which has been ramping up killings, suicide bombers, and other assaults on government and civilian targets.
President Donald Trump withdrew hundreds of American commandos from Somalia in the last days of his presidency, leaving US military leaders more reliant on Somali troops to spearhead the war against Islamist terrorists.
“The war against al-Shabaab is no longer a priority,” Somali political expert Mohamed Mubarak stated. “The battle is being waged inside the government itself.”
President Biden has yet to say if he would deploy American soldiers back to Afghanistan on a long-term basis.
Mohamed Hussein Roble, Somalia’s Prime Minister, in May.
FEISAL OMAR/REUTERS/FEISAL OMAR/REUTERS/FEISAL OMAR/REUTERS/
The Somali leadership crisis occurs in the midst of political squabbling about the country’s postponed national elections. A State Department spokeswoman stated over the weekend that the US is “very concerned” about the ongoing election delays.
The fighting has now expanded to Somali security personnel, whom the US relies on to combat militants.
Forces loyal to the state president exchanged fire with members of the Puntland Security Force, an elite counter-terror team trained by the CIA and US Navy SEALs, in the northeastern state of Puntland this month. The situation is still in limbo.
Michael M. Phillips can be reached at [email protected]
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‘Somali Power Struggle Threatens Battle Against Militants,’ appeared in the print edition on December 28, 2021.
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