MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has dismissed Finance Minister Dr. Elmi Mohamud Nur just two days after the minister suspended two officials linked to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
The announcement was made by Farhan Jimale, the spokesman of the Office of the Prime Minister, during a mini reshuffle on Saturday night, appointing Bihi Iman Egeh as the new finance minister.
The replacement came after a consultation with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the spokesman added.
The sudden sacking of Minister Nur has left many Somalis in shock, especially as it came a day after he was compelled to retract his official statement suspending Accountant General Mohamed Abdirahman Anas and the Finance Ministry’s Director for Revenue, Feisal Mohamed Hashi.
In his initial letter, Minister Nur accused the two officials of various misconduct, including actions detrimental to national interests, obstruction of the ministry’s administration, deliberate payment delays, unwarranted salary withholding, and hindrance to accessing the Somalia Financial Management Information System (SFMIS), a World Bank and IMF-supported financial reporting system.
‘Stern warning’
However, in an unexpected turn of events, Minister Nur reversed his decision on Friday, stating that the suspensions were lifted but emphasizing that the administrative charges remained, serving as a stern warning for future conduct.
Official sources have revealed that President Mohamud exerted pressure on Minister Nur to rescind the suspensions, as the two officials involved are closely associated with the president.
Both Mohamed Abdirahman Anas and Feisal Mohamed Hashi have longstanding connections to President Mohamud’s political party. Anas, in particular, has been a longtime friend and party member, having come from SIMAD University, which was co-owned by President Mohamud before he joined the Premier Bank, another institution affiliated with the president. Hashi, the Director of Revenue, also hails from SIMAD University and has been an active member of President Mohamud’s political party.
The sacked officials are regarded as highly influential figures in the government’s financial sector, with one insider stating that they hold significant responsibility for releasing funds, including kickbacks for the president and his family.
Don’t touch those connected to the big fish
The abrupt dismissal of these powerful individuals, who are connected to influential figures within the government, has raised concerns about the extent of corruption within Somalia’s political landscape.
Political analyst Ahmed Ali has criticized the sacking, suggesting that Minister Nur should not have dared to dismiss these influential individuals due to their close ties to powerful figures within the government, including President Mohamud.
“For your own survival, you don’t touch those connected to the big fish,” he said.
Meanwhile, MP Ayub Ismail of the Somali Federal Parliament has described the situation as a serious matter that affects the entire government, emphasizing the limited power of both the prime minister and the finance minister to fulfill their constitutional duties.
“Where the head of government does not have any power to fulfill his constitutional duties, one can imagine how limited the power of the minister is. Therefore, this move is not surprising,” MP Ismail, who also comes from the region as minister Nur, said.
In response to his removal from office, Minister Nur expressed his accomplishments during his tenure, highlighting that he ensured timely payment of government employees’ salaries and attempted to maintain a non-political approach to financial reforms.
“I tried to keep politics out of the financial reform program. I have tried to maintain the institutional system of the Ministry of Finance so that it can efficiently fulfill its mandate, so that we can effectively serve our people,” he wrote on his Facebook.
However, the events surrounding his dismissal have further exposed the widespread corruption within the Somali government. Many citizens have begun to point fingers at President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of granting economic benefits to his family members, relatives, and friends while nearly half the country’s population still need humanitarian assistance, including 230,000 at serious risk of starvation.