The plot thickens as Somalia’s Top Minister Roble frustrates Jubaland and Northeastern State
The plot gets thicker as Somalia’s Prime Minister Roble frustrates Jubaland and Northeastern State’s leaders
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Efforts to clear up the current dead end in Somalia were a nod on Wednesday, with questions now being asked whether it is Villa Somalia or federal member states that are trying to postpone the election, but the former apparently takes a lot of blame.
Mandated to find a solution to the current political stalemate, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has cut the image of an unprincipled leader who can be easily swung if that is not the case at all on Wednesday’s events.
Roble replaced Hassan Ali Khaire in September last year after it previously disagreed with outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on the model and date of the election. But since the takeover, Roble, formerly with the NGOs, has failed to take significant steps in resolving the election cattle.
For example. The prime minister on Wednesday canceled a meeting with Jubaland and the Northeastern State administrations in Mogadishu despite having planned it, further raising eyebrows over his commitment to pushing for credible and transparent elections.
Without giving much detail, Roble sent an “apology” to Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe for “failing to make it to the meeting”, adding that “please agree on the agenda, send it to me for review”. Critics claim that the movement portrays Roble as a “flip-flop” who cannot make “independent” decisions.
Angry at Roble’s absence, the leaders of Northeastern State and Jubaland, who have not met the federal government in Somalia’s leadership for three weeks now, despite pitching tents in Mogadishu, Villa Somalia, have been accused of “sabotaging” the country’s electoral process.
In order for the country to move forward, they noted that all stakeholders must review the reasons for the delayed implementation of the agreement on September 17 before the election, the Baidoa recommendations in addition to evaluating the “legitimacy” of the current authority.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo expired on February 8 this year, but the administration has not yet provided a clear roadmap for the election. Wednesday UN Security Council [UNSC] asked the country’s leadership to resolve the deadlock as soon as possible.
The Prime Minister has previously failed in his many attempts to mediate between the competing sides while being seen at his appointing authority. Sources told Axadlethat the prime minister can not make any decision on the election crisis as he is being “held hostage” by Villa Somalia.
It is already suspected that the administration could plan to extend Farmajo’s period and lead to chaos in the lower house. On Wednesday, heavily armed security forces were deployed near parliament, leading to condemnation from opposition members.
“This morning, technically fitted vehicles, armored APCs and about 30 NISA security and SNA checkpoints near my house made and blocked all side roads leading to my house, just to prevent me from attending Parliament’s session. “Resources to be used for counter-terrorism,” said Abdirizak Mohamed, one of the MPs suspended on Saturday.
“It is very unfortunate that ex-President Farmaajo is pushing the country into a military crisis. In fact. Instead of using resources to counter al-Shabaab, Farmajo’s priorities are to counter political opposition,” added Senator Ali Hassan.
Despite growing pressure and accusations of plans to extend Farmajo’s tenure, Villa Somalia remains tight. It is not clear how long it will take for the country to resolve the stalemate, but efforts are being made to ensure that Somalia does not plunge into civil war.
AXADLETM
.
