Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed announced yesterday (Thursday) that he had stripped Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble of his powers. Analysts believe this reflects the bitter conflict between the two centers of power, which could lead to a political and economic crisis. The president’s office, popularly known as Farmajo, stated in a release that the Prime Minister had violated the transitional constitution, so his executive powers are revoked, particularly his authority to dismiss and appoint officials, until the election is completed.
The president described the decisions made by the Prime Minister as reckless, which could pave the way for political and security instability. The two have a history of confrontation. The contentious issues involved dismissals and appointments to key security positions.
On September 5, Prime Minister Mohamed Roble fired the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Fahad Yasin, a close ally of Farmajo, for his handling of the investigation into the unexplained disappearance of one of its officers, Ikran Tahlil. Meanwhile, the president overturned the “illegal and unconstitutional” decision and appointed a replacement of his choosing after promoting Fahad Yasin to the position of National Security Advisor.
Farmajo’s term expired on February 8 without him reaching an agreement with regional leaders on holding elections, triggering a severe constitutional crisis. Elected in mid-April, a proposal aimed to extend his term by two years. This had triggered armed clashes in Mogadishu, reviving memories of the decades of civil war that ravaged the country after 1991. Prime Minister Roble, appointed in September 2020, has been at the center of the political stage since Farmajo tasked him in May with organizing the sensitive elections. The Prime Minister agreed on an electoral timetable, with an initial target date of October 10 for the presidential election. The process is already behind schedule. The appointment of members of the lower house, the final step before electing the head of state under Somalia’s complex indirect electoral system, is now scheduled between October 1 and November 25. Mohamed Roble assured UN diplomats on Sunday that the elections would proceed “as planned.”