On Monday, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmaajo, confirmed that he had suspended Prime Minister (PM) Mohammed Hussein Roble over corruption allegations, renewing the conflict between the duo and once again calling into question Somalia’s stability.
Farmaajo has accused Roble of stealing land owned by the Somali National Army (SNA) and disrupting the defence ministry’s investigation into the matter. The president also suspended the commander of marine forces, General Abdihamid Mohamed Dirir, on similar charges.
The duty and powers of the PM Mohamed H Roble, who is being investigated over allegations of corruption and abuse of public land, remains suspended pending the outcome of the ongoing investigations. https://t.co/CjGZtpnH8N
— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) December 27, 2021
Speaking to Somalia state news agency SONNA, PM Roble accused Farmaajo of an “open coup attempt against the government and the national constitution.” Roble also commanded all Somali national forces to only obey orders from the PM’s office. In a Facebook post, government spokesperson Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu described the President’s actions as unconstitutional and said that the PM would continue with his duties.
Farmaajo’s move to suspend Roble marks a steep escalation in tensions between the two leaders who continue to fight over parliamentary elections that were held in November. Earlier on Sunday, Farmaajo’s office released a statement calling Roble “a serious threat to the electoral process and overstepping his mandate.” In response, Roble accused Farmaajo of “derailing the electoral process.”
Alarmed by the dispute, the embassies of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom in Mogadishu called for an immediate de-escalation of the situation in Somalia, with an emphasis on avoiding violence. The US State Department’s Bureau of Africa Affairs also condemned those who “obstruct Somalia’s path to peace.”
The U.S. is prepared to act against those who obstruct Somalia’s path to peace. The attempted suspension of @MohamedHRoble is alarming & we support his efforts for rapid & credible elections. All parties must desist from escalatory actions & statements. https://t.co/gQwkRhGvY8
— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) December 27, 2021
Last week, US diplomats asked for a “credible and rapid conclusion” to the elections in Somalia. They said that persistent delays and irregularities in the procedure have “undermined the credibility” of the polls. Somalia’s parliamentary elections began in November this year and were supposed to conclude by December 24; however, only a few of the total 275 representatives have been elected.
Somalia has an indirect electoral process where the regional councils are meant to choose a senate. Clan elders are then meant to pick members of the lower house which eventually picks a new president. However, the selection process for the Senate candidates is yet to be completed.
This is the second time President Farmaajo has suspended PM Roble. In September, the two leaders bickered over the role of Somalia’s intelligence chief Fahad Yasin, whom Roble dismissed for mishandling an investigation. However, Farmaajo reinstated Yasin, overriding Roble’s authority. The dispute escalated throughout September and led to Farmaajo suspending Roble. The duo also engaged in a feud back in April, after President Farmaajo unilaterally extended his four-year term by two years.