Somalia: Dispute brewing between President and PM over new C

[MrPrestige]

Somalia: Dispute brewing between President and PM over new Cabinet



MOGADISHU, Somalia Oct 24 (Garowe Online) - A political dispute is brewing between Somalia's top leaders over the naming of a new Cabinet, government sources tell Garowe Online.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed wants to include his "political allies" in the new Cabinet, which Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake is expected to name soon.

The new Cabinet will be much smaller and is expected to consist of less than 20 ministers, down from 39 ministers currently in office.

President Sheikh Sharif wants his allies to be part of the new Cabinet, according to ministers familiar with the ongoing dispute.

But Prime Minister Sharmake has refused to include some of the President's suggested ministers in the new Cabinet, including current Finance Minister Sharif Hassan, Fisheries Minister Abdirahman Ibbi and Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed "Jengeli."

"This is the second dispute between them [Sheikh Sharif and Sharmake] and Cabinet ministers close to the President are involved," said a senior government source speaking on the condition of anonymity, who added that the dispute has been presented to international diplomats.

Both President Sheikh Sharif and Prime Minister Sharmake are currently out of the country. The Prime Minister is expected to announce the new Cabinet minister after he returns from London.

Unconfirmed reports said Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Ghelle is also involved in the dispute, with reports saying that Ghelle is pressuring Somali government leaders to appoint Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Oomar back to his former post as Somali foreign minister.

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Source: Garowe Online

http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/..._Cabinet.shtml

[grandpakhalif]

already posted.