Somalia: AMISOM to mediate between President and PM as power struggle continues
17 Nov 17, 2013 - 10:35:14 AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Nov.17, 2013 (Garowe Online)-African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Spokesman Col. Ali Adan Humad has expressed displeasure about the growing political infighting between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, Garowe Online reports.
Addressing the media in Mogadishu on Sunday, Col. Humad said that AMISOM would resolve the political tensions and urged the top officials to exercise restraints.
“We are very sorry to hear that row, we will try our best to bring them closer to each other so that we can together move forward,” noted Humad, adding that African Union Special Representative to Somalia is expected to meet both Mohamud and Shirdon to avoid lurching the nation backward.
The AMISOM official emphasized that the political row has nothing to do with future of the mission but he says it may impact Mogadishu-based Federal Government policies.
Power struggle heats up
President Mohamud and Prime Minister Shirdon’s row comes to ahead after Shirdon has insisted that he will not resign until the national assembly members intervene in accordance with the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC).
Independent sources in Mogadishu tell Garowe Online that Villa Somalia Presidential compound has been a scene for political discussions as Mohamud is leading calls for Shirdon to go in a bid to reassert full authority on the brittle government.
The sources declined to be identified say, Federal Members of Parliament separately meet the two, with Shirdon telling he can be ousted by the parliament alone.
“Shirdon is ready to face confidence vote in Parliament but the President wants the Prime Ministers out of the office. What I have been witnessing is that Prime Minister Shirdon has come under intense pressure to step down in recent days,” Federal MP who asked to remain anonymous told Garowe Online.
President Mohamud whose administration failed to gain huge public trust in many parts of the anarchic country feels that his Prime Minister became disobedient and ignored to heed his suggestions.
GAROWE ONLINE
http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/pub ... nues.shtml