From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Aug 05 2008 - 08:23:27 EDT
Sacking of Mogadishu Mayor Plunges Somalia Into Political Crisis By Peter
Clottey
Washington, D.C.
*05 August 2008*
Clottey Interview With VOA'S Haroun Maruf - Download (MP3) [image: audio
clip]
Clottey Interview With VOA'S Haroun Maruf - Listen (MP3) [image: audio clip]
A move by Somalia's Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein to replace some
cabinet ministers who reportedly resigned in protest after the controversial
yet powerful mayor of Mogadishu was sacked is generating intense debate.
Hussein reportedly said the resignations would not affect government's work,
adding that the transitional government was working well despite the
resignations, which he claims were designed to create instability in the
country and to undermine a recently signed Djibouti peace process between
the government and an Eritrea-based opposition faction.
Some political analysts say the controversy surrounding the sacking of
Mogadishu mayor Mohamed Dheere is reportedly generating tension between
Somali President Abdullahi Yussuf and Prime Minister Hussein, which could
destabilize the transitional government. Somali journalist Haroun Maruf
tells reporter Peter Clottey that the dismissal of the Mogadishu mayor has
plunged the country into a political crisis.
"He (Prime Minister Nur Hassein) has replaced three ministers who resigned
Saturday. Two of them spoke to the media and expressed their disappointment
with the prime minister's dismissal of the mayor of Mogadishu. He also
appointed three other ministers for positions that were vacant. The prime
minister is saying that he did not seek an official resignation from seven
other ministries who were said to have resigned so, he is not ready to
replace them for the time being," Maruf pointed out.
He said the sacking of the Mogadishu mayor contributed significantly to the
political crisis.
"The bottom line of this political crisis was the dismissal of the mayor of
Mogadishu, who is a key ally of the president. Well, there are a number of
key allies in the government in the military, in the police and in the
security services that are close to the president. And it is sad to say the
president perhaps felt that the prime minister would be going after these
individuals, so he is trying to show that he does not want his loyal
supporters within the transitional federal government, the police and the
security to be released from their positions because they have fought with
him. They have been very trusted allies of him for so long," he said.
Maruf said the president has the final say on who gets fired from the
transitional government.
"Of course the prime minister's responsibility is to propose who he wants to
be in his government, and who he wants to dismiss. But ultimately, the
president would have to sign, and as long as the president does not approve
the prime minister's whishes, the game stays in favor of the president,"
Maruf noted.
He said tension between the president and the prime keeps escalating.
"Well, we have tension now, political tension between the president and the
prime minister. There is also a very strong movement lobbying in parliament
some parliamentarians who are allied with the prime minister are talking of
motion of impeachment of the president. Some other parliamentarians are
campaigning for a vote of no confidence for the prime minister's government
in the parliament. So the tension is rising," he said.
Maruf said neighboring Ethiopia can help resolve the ongoing political
crisis in Somalia.
"The tension can be solved, I believe, if the president and the prime
minister agree on the main point, which is the dismissal of the mayor of
Mogadishu. And many observers are expecting Ethiopia, a key ally of the
government both the prime minister and the president, to intervene and solve
this crisis," Maruf pointed out.
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