Wave of Resignations Rock Somali PM's Office Amid Political Tensions

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 29 November 2024 23:31

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Wave of Resignations Rock Somali PM's Office Amid Political Tensions

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Two senior officials in the Office of Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre tendered their resignations on Thursday, marking the latest in a series of departures that underscore mounting political turmoil.

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Wave of Resignations Rock Somali PM's Office Amid Political Tensions.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Two senior officials in the Office of Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre tendered their resignations on Thursday, marking the latest in a series of departures that underscore mounting political turmoil.

These resignations coincided with the Prime Minister's unpublicized trip to Kenya, where he reportedly met with Kenya’s National Intelligence Chief, Nurdin Haji, in Nairobi to discuss the escalating crisis in Jubaland in an attempt to remove the Jubaland leadership.

Shamsa Abdulqadir Dahir, Senior Advisor on Women and Human Rights, cited systemic injustices, abuse of power, and discriminatory practices as reasons for her resignation.

She alleged that her identity as a woman from Jubaland had made her a target within the Prime Minister’s office.

"I, Shamsa Abdulqadir Dahir, officially resign after witnessing widespread injustice, abuse of power, and the suppression of work related to my assigned duties. I was subjected to targeting due to my Jubaland identity and denied my constitutional right to work,” she stated in her resignation letter.

Shamsa expressed gratitude to colleagues who supported her but condemned the alleged mistreatment of individuals from Jubaland.

Tubeec Dahir, a senior officer in the Social Affairs Unit, also resigned on Thursday, citing disapproval of recent military actions by Mogadishu-based forces in Jubaland. He referred to last week’s government takeover of Raas Kaambooni, a strategic Jubaland location, following an air deployment from Mogadishu.

"The naked invasion of Jubaland by Mogadishu forces is unacceptable,” he said. "I have worked in this office since 2019, but the ongoing political events, especially the assault on my region, have made it impossible to continue.”

Escalating Federal-Jubaland Rift

The resignations come amid heightened tensions between the Federal Government and the semi-autonomous Jubaland state.

Jubaland announced on Thursday that it was severing ties with Mogadishu over a disputed election in the region.

Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, Jubaland’s president, was re-elected for a third term earlier this week, a move opposed by the Federal Government, which claims the election was illegitimate.

In response, the Federal Government issued an arrest warrant for Madobe, accusing him of treason and leaking classified information.

Jubaland retaliated with its own arrest warrant for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Jubaland, often referred to as Somalia's breadbasket, is strategically important due to its port city, Kismayo, and its proximity to contested maritime zones rich in potential oil and gas deposits.

The region's forces, dominated by the Daarood/Ogaden clan, have historically clashed with Mogadishu-based troops, primarily from the Hawiye clan. This longstanding rivalry dates back to the 1990s civil war.

In recent years, Jubaland has been at odds with the Federal Government over governance issues and military interventions, with the latest developments further deepening the divide.

The Federal Government's tensions with Jubaland mirror its strained relationship with Somaliland, which seeks international recognition as an independent state.

These internal divisions threaten to undermine Somalia’s efforts to address pressing challenges, including Islamist insurgencies and economic recovery.

As the situation unfolds, both sides remain entrenched, with no immediate resolution in sight and fears continue to grow that the rift could escalate into broader clan warfare, jeopardizing Somalia's fragile stability.