MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud issued a stern warning to his cabinet ministers, declaring their potential dismissal if they fail to implement his controversial amendments to the provisional constitution.
The president chaired an extraordinary meeting of the Somali Cabinet of Ministers, where he expressed frustration with the lack of progress on key issues.
The Monday extraordinary meeting began with discussions on flood relief caused by El Nino rains but shifted focus to the perceived incompetence of cabinet members.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, visibly angered, emphasized the immovability of his government’s plan, except for two critical issues: debt relief and easing the arms embargo.
Despite some progress in these areas, the president expressed disappointment in the fight against Al-Shabaab and the amendment of the draft constitution, accusing the cabinet of being “incompetent and without any influence in the parliament.”
“Why would a minister sit in a position representing his/her clan if he/she cannot convince his member of parliament from his fellow clan to implement the government’s agenda?” questioned President Hassan Sheikh, addressing the Council of Ministers, including Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre.
‘Either or choice’
The president presented the cabinet with an ultimatum – either implement his political plan to amend the constitution and remove the prime minister’s position or vacate their seats.
He warned, “We don’t want to dismiss you from your positions. If we are forced to, we will dump you, we will replace you with other men with suits standing there outside.”
The president’s speech is linked to the National Consultative Council (NCC) agreement of July this year, where regional governments and the federal government agreed to delay elections and change the government system by creating the position of deputy president.
This move threatens the clan-based power-sharing formula, with opposition from many members of parliament.
Sources close to Villa Somalia reveal that even allies of President Hassan Sheikh strongly oppose changes in the government system.
Some critics argue that while administrations in South West, Galmudug, and Jubbaland have been granted an illegal extension of term, Hassan Sheikh’s administration is engaging in a political war with Puntland.
Puntland, a vital member state of federal Somalia, does not endorse the NCC agreement, adding further complexity to the ongoing constitutional amendment discussions.