The media reported disagreements, confusion, exhaustion, and disastrous arrangement for the announcement of the new Cabinet made around 2:30 AM Mogadishu local time on Friday morning - an important holiday for Muslims.
The formality and the time were weird, unprecedented, and unwise way of managing such an important political event. So far, it is not clear the reasons behind this clumsy policy decision making process and political event that took 37 days of planning. Unusually, the President and the Speaker of parliament did not attend the ceremony for the announcement of the new Cabinet. The presidential spokesperson issued press release saying the president has approved the new cabinet. No information about the administrative actions between the President and PM’s offices on the subject for public record.
The PM personally read out the names of the Cabinet members without providing their background in terms of full name, education, experience, clan affiliation in conformity with the power sharing parliamentary representation formula, and cabinet Department. This first step did not augur hopeful future.
The new Cabinet is composed of 56 members- the Prime Minister, 25 ministers, 5 state ministers, and 25 deputy ministers. One positive development is that all positions have been filled at once and no state minister has been appointed to the presidency. With the exception of few new faces, the 56 new cabinet members belong to six intersecting groups:
It seems that advancing the interests and priorities of Somalia and the respect of the constitutional goals and political representation among the Somali people were not the guiding principles for the selection of the new Cabinet members. The discrimination among former Shirdon Cabinet members had fuelled the intense debate and criticisms that would further weaken the federal government.
In the context of Somali politics, the growing perception is that the composition of the new Cabinet undermines the high expectation conferred on the federal government leaders. Some observers are of the opinion that the former Speaker and minister of finance Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan has secured the inclusion of his diehard allies in the cabinet. This reinforces the view that the federal government accepted the inevitability of Somalia’s disintegration, subscribed to the surrender policy, and decided to empower elements of anti-sovereignty, independence, and dignity of Somali people.
The media has particularly focused on the powerful Ministers of finance (Hussein Abdi Halane), justice and constitution (Farah Abdulkhadir), interior and federalism (Abdullahi Godax), internal security (Abdikarim Guled), and defense (Gen. Mohamed Sheikh). All sorts of unflattering allegations against these ministries have dominated the conversation among Somalis. Cartoonist Amin Amir reflected the substance of the conversation in his daily cartoons.
As Federalism and constitutional review are politically very sensitive issues for the future of Somalia, the new ministries of interior and federal affairs, of internal security, and of justice and constitution attract particular attention. The experience of the roadmap and provisional constitution, of the Jubbaland State agreement in Addis Ababa, and of Baidoa Conference on South West state, has dented the credibility of the federal government on federalism and state building and casts shadow on them.
Arbitrary decisions and actions without reference to credible and transparent deliberative decision making process is feeding public discontent and anger and could trigger social eruption that could reverse the progress made so far in the fight against terrorism for building peace and state institutions. The pointed questions asked President Hassan in his appearance at Universal TV tell a lot about the public opinion towards the performance of the federal government.
The indifference to respond to the increasing complain about unfairness, injustice, lack of participation, corruption, abuse of political power, marginalization, fraudulent political representation, insecurity, and ill-considered support of governance structures without legal framework encourages the culture of cynicism and defeats the common national and international goals of peace, stability and prosperity in Somalia. Complain about underrepresentation is linked to overrepresentation and it merits redress.
The federal parliament approved the new Cabinet because of external maneuvers, corruption, and article 67 of the provisional constitution. But, there are three possible scenarios as consequences after this new cabinet:
The leaders of the federal government shoulder grave responsibilities in this dark circumstance and the current indifference or self-serving approach is not the proper response for facing the overwhelming challenges of Somalia. Political courage, wisdom, sense of patriotism and conviction, and other leadership skills hold the key for turning around the worrisome prospect of the country.
Mr. Mohamud M Uluso
President HSM's Proclamation to Defeat Al-Shabab by Force in Somalia To overcome the complex problems of civil war, state fragility, and underdevelopment, the Somali people supported risky political changes for a government that promotes freedom, justice, peace, and prosperity in Somalia. For example, the Islamic movements enjoyed popular support to end the brutal reigns of warlords and the military occupation of Ethiopia and establish new government. Full Article
Waagacusub.net -Auditor General Mohamed Ali alias Afgoi has exposed missing millions of dollars from key departments within the Federal Government of Somalia [FGS], in what could raise questions about government expenditures. In his report, Afgoi said 25 entities and three embassies have been audited. Unsupported expenditure amounts to $9M; contracts worth $31M not registered with auditor general's office, the existence of unauthorized bank accounts outside the Treasury Single Account. Full Article
I hereby inform the country that By virtue of the Authority given to the President of Uganda by Articles: 108(2), 108A(1), 113(1) and 114(1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, I hereby appoint H.E. the Vice President, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Honourable Cabinet Ministers and other Ministers as indicated below: Full Article
Responding to reports that Somalia's education minister has announced that social media may be shut down for five days from 27 to 31 May as one of the ways to stop cheating in the national secondary school exams, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes Seif Magango said: Full Article
Waagacusub.com - Huge explosions have rocket the Somali capital. They became incontrollable, as they occur at least twice, while targeting government officials and their offices. Al Shabab terrorists seem to be recapturing the control of Mogadishu after the government troops and police vacated their bases in the front lines in lower and middle Shabelle regions. Full Article
Somalia: Two people hurt in bomb attack in Baidoa Full Article
Ethiopian intelligence officials discovered that President Agjar and all the ministers he appointed belong to the religious group Al-Islah Al-Itihad. This became a surprise to them, according to an official who spoke to Waagacusub.com Full Article
Somalia: Roadside blast hits AU troops in Janaale town Full Article
Somalia: Al-Shabaab attacks hotel in Barawe Full Article
In July 2009, Mahad Ibrahim Hamarow kidnapped French officers Denis Allex and another officer who escaped from the Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu and then joined Al Shabaab. In the same year, he fled to Kenya, this was confirmed by Hizbul Islam Spokesman Mr Aydarus. - In 2010, Mahad Hamarow went to South Africa for migration, that's how we found out in the investigation, we were also told by Mohamed Isse and his brother Somaney who lives in Johannesburg South Africa.
President HSM's Proclamation to Defeat Al-Shabab by Force in Somalia To overcome the complex problems of civil war, state fragility, and underdevelopment, the Somali people supported risky political changes for a government that promotes freedom, justice, peace, and prosperity in Somalia. For example, the Islamic movements enjoyed popular support to end the brutal reigns of warlords and the military occupation of Ethiopia and establish new government.
Waagacusub.net -Auditor General Mohamed Ali alias Afgoi has exposed missing millions of dollars from key departments within the Federal Government of Somalia [FGS], in what could raise questions about government expenditures. In his report, Afgoi said 25 entities and three embassies have been audited. Unsupported expenditure amounts to $9M; contracts worth $31M not registered with auditor general's office, the existence of unauthorized bank accounts outside the Treasury Single Account.
Waagacusub.net - IBS Bank Somalia, which is believed to have the largest amount of money, Al-Qaeda Finance Secretary Fazul Abdallah from Comoros has started issuing Visa Card Payments for the first time. Al-Shabaab's finance secretary confirmed that Mohamed Ali Warsame had $ 157 million in cash, according to Khalif Ereg, who was later bribed with $ 2 million.
I hereby inform the country that By virtue of the Authority given to the President of Uganda by Articles: 108(2), 108A(1), 113(1) and 114(1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, I hereby appoint H.E. the Vice President, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Honourable Cabinet Ministers and other Ministers as indicated below:
In July 2009, Mahad Ibrahim Hamarow kidnapped French officers Denis Allex and another officer who escaped from the Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu and then joined Al Shabaab. In the same year, he fled to Kenya, this was confirmed by Hizbul Islam Spokesman Mr Aydarus. - In 2010, Mahad Hamarow went to South Africa for migration, that's how we found out in the investigation, we were also told by Mohamed Isse and his brother Somaney who lives in Johannesburg South Africa. Full Article
Galmudug State is not just the geographic heart of Somalia but the quintessential soul of the Somali nation. Within Galmudug, all the major Somali clan lineages- the Hawiye, Dir, Darood and Madhibaan are represented. No other Somali region or state is home to such diverse and influential clans with such extensive historical significance in Somalia as found in the Galmudug territory. Economically, Galmudug in 2024 is set to be the first location for the offshore oil and gas that the Somali Federal Government in partnership with the Houston-based American company, Coastline Exploration have commenced work on off the Hobyo coast since 2021. Full Article
Waagacusub.net - Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday mourned the death of Namibia President Hage G. Geingob and sent condolences to the government of the African country. Full Article
Waagacusub.net - Somalia's former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Monday warned of the risk of political crisis over plans by the incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to overhaul the constitution. Full Article
Waagacusub.net - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said his country will protect Somalia against any threat in what can be described as an indirect response to recent Ethiopia's move to access the seaport of Somaliland. Full Article
Hormuud's Assault on African Peacekeepers Figure 14: African Peace Keepers Hormuud launched a scorching public campaign against the Kenyan military forces in AMISOM in late August 2019. Full Article
Former Intel official stripped from NISA membership Full Article
PM KHEYRE USELESS AND COSTY OVERSEAS TRIPS. Full Article
Abiy says 'New Year' will be celebrated in Eritrea, Ethiopian Airlines to resume flights Full Article
Massive rise in Islamist militant attacks in Africa Full Article
Somalia: Commentary on the new Cabinet
From the beginning, the daily leaks about the selection process of the new Cabinet (Council of Ministers) of Somalia headed by Prime Minister (PM) Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed have baffled both Somalis and foreign observers of the Somali politics. The parli