Somalia: Is there hostility between Somali dynamic duo, Sharif and Gaas?
Aug 9, 2012 - 6:52:26 AM
Aug 9 2012 (Garowe Online) -Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas reportedly
have not seen eye to eye lately as both politicians have announced they are
running for President.
The TFG under President Sharif for most of its tenure was a government
barely controlling any districts in Mogadishu but since Al Shabaab's exit of
Mogadishu last year, the city has seen significant advancement in terms of
security and development, albeit it still has a great deal to go.
Prime Minister Gaas who was appointed last year played an intricate role
with the support of quasi-independent regions in turning the Somalia
political process into an all inclusive federal states' process.
President Sharif and his PM Gaas to a large number of Mogadishu residents
have been a dynamic force - hero like after both survived assassination
attempts - that has given the war-torn capital some hope.
Despite setbacks and accusations of corruption, the TFG with the support of
other regions such as Puntland, Galmudug and Ahlu Sunnah group have ratified
a constitution and are less than two weeks away from a permanent government.
However, things are changing for the super hero tandem as elections draw
close, according to inside sources the beef between the two could threaten
the political process. Although highly unlikely because of the huge amount
of resources and time invested in ending this political process on schedule.
Prime Minister Gaas publicly announced on Tuesday that he is running for
President of Somalia as the transitional government will come to an end
August 20th.
According to inside sources after his announcement, President Sharif was
distraught at his Prime Minister's decision to run for office.
Unconfirmed reports say that President Sharif and Prime Minister Gaas met
with officials from the international community on Wednesday for hours, to
discuss an unprecedented move by President Sharif to reshuffle the TFG at
this critical juncture.
Even though there are 11 days left in the current government, the move by
President Sharif would have dismissed Prime Minister Gaas and many other top
officials of their positions.
At the Nairobi meeting earlier this week President Sharif walked out of the
talks between signatories reportedly annoyed by Puntland President
Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and Prime Minister Gaas' delay.
According to inside sources, President Sharif was upset the two leaders met
alone and had delayed the signatories meeting for thirty minutes.
Sources close to Prime Minister Gaas said that President Sharif was also
made evident of the fact that his Prime Minister was running for Presidency
leading up to the Nairobi meeting earlier this week, a popular rumor
circulating for months which was unconfirmed until Tuesday.
A popular Prime Minister, Gaas is a worthy contender for the Presidency
which could threaten President Sharif's chances of making a return.
The two candidates along with Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sharif
Adan and former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo are among the most
experienced, however there political CV's have been blemished by a report by
the Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group which accused the politicians of
different scales of corruption while in office.
The report which was leaked very close to the presidential elections will
have an indeterminate impact on the presidential elections.
As the dynamic duo will divorce in 11 days it will be extremely exciting to
watch as a new Somali President will emerge.
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Received on Thu Aug 09 2012 - 17:27:25 EDT
