MOGADISHU- Folks expected a game-changing announcement from Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre. However, his recent press talk barely shed light on why the National Consultative Council (NCC) powwow went kaput. Attendees from the federal government and four pivotal Federal Member States (FMS) gathered with the intention of hashing out Somalia’s electoral game plan, but the whole affair fizzled, leaving everyone in the dark.
Now, there’s a lot of head-scratching over possible ulterior motives behind the curtains. The idea was to pave the way for Villa Somalia’s grand plan for the electoral system. Yet, that vision tanked when Jubaland’s head honcho, Ahmed Madobe, nixed proposals purportedly meddling with FMS’s internal matters.
During his Tuesday tête-à-tête with the media, Prime Minister Hamza shied away from acknowledging the talks’ derailment. Instead, he implied that the FMS bigwigs were heading back home for chinwags with their kinfolk. His remarks danced around the real issue—the NCC meeting’s flop—and left many yearning for clarity.
The spat between the federal crew and Jubaland burst into the open when Madobe pushed back against Villa Somalia’s attempts to muck about in FMS governance. Word on the street is that the federal folks wanted an unauthorized extension for FMS leaders, which Madobe outright rejected. This rebuff was the straw that broke the camel’s back, culminating in the meeting’s collapse.
For Hamza, who’s a Jubaland native, this situation is a fork in the road after what many dubbed a “honeymoon phase” of his leadership. Until now, he’s steered clear of major political hurricanes. However, this failure may kickstart a storm, putting a strain on relations between Jubaland and Villa Somalia and raising eyebrows about Hamza’s ability to steer the federal ship smoothly.
Adding fuel to the fire is his tenuous relationship with Northeastern State, a heavyweight in Somali politics. Hamza has yet to show face in Northeastern State since taking the reins, and his chilly rapport with its leaders might throw a wrench in any plans to mend ties across the federal mosaic.
In his statement, Hamza emphasized past accomplishments in national tête-à-têtes, giving a nod to strides made under his and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s helm. But, sidestepping the current quagmire left pundits and hawk-eyed observers rattled.
A Mogadishu-based political pundit, speaking anonymously to Axadle, voiced his letdown: “It’s a crying shame that the country’s head honcho, after three decades of clawing back from political ruin, muddies the waters about the country’s political scene. Hamza’s words are like those of despots who, even as their realms crumbled, would pipe up, ‘All’s well,’ turning a blind eye to reality.”
Somalis, paired with political aficionados, have their eyes peeled for Villa Somalia’s next shuffle. As the nation braves fresh political tempests, especially between Jubaland and the federal juggernauts, Hamza is facing a trial by fire.
The stakes are through the roof, and the road ahead seems as foggy as a London morning. How Hamza and his team weather this squall could set the stage for Somalia’s political narrative for months or even years down the line.
Axadle
