Protests Against Somali President for Sacking Prime Minister, Who Is Supported by Parliament

Somali President names new Prime Minister

2008-12-16 15:40:55

MOGADISHU, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) --

Somali President Abdulahi YusufAhmed on Tuesday named Mohamed Mohamoud Guled Gamadere as new prime minister to replace Nur Hassan Hussein whom he has sacked.

The move came as the Somali Parliament voted to endorse Hussein and his government on Monday.

"The president named the new Prime Minister to fill in the vacant post of the premiership of the country after sacking Nur Hassan Hussein as the prime minister," Hussein Mohamed Mohamoud, the Presidential spokesman, told Xinhua.

The president sacked Hussein on Sunday, accusing him of incompetence, embezzlement and mismanagement.

But in a no-confidence vote on Monday in Parliament, 143 out of the 170 lawmakers voted for the government, 20 rejected and 7 abstained.

"143 of the 170 parliamentarians present voted in favour of the prime minister and his government while 20 voted against and 7 abstained," Sheik Aden Madoobe, the parliament speaker, said after the vote

Speaking in Baidoa, one of the only two cities under the control of the Somali transitional government, President Yusuf said the new prime minister will soon form a government, which will require the endorsement of the national parliament.

President Yusuf rejected parliament's vote of confidence on Hussein and his government, saying it was "unconstitutional".

Gamadere, a long-time close ally of President Yusuf, served in the government of the former Prime Minister Ali Mohamod Gedi, in which he held two different ministerial portfolios as minister of Public Works and Housing and Interior Minister.

Hussien, whose government gained the confidence of the Somali parliament, had his newly appointed ministers sworn in Monday soon after the parliament vote.

The two Somali leaders have been in deep disagreement over variety of issues including the appointment of new ministers in Hussein's cabinet and the national reconciliation.

Soon after his sacking on Sunday, Hussein rejected the decision by the president.

Speaking in the southern town of Baidoa, the seat of the parliament, Hussien said that the president has no "legal authority" to sack him and that he would continue to serve in his capacity as prime minister.

"I do not accept the president's announcement today that he sacked me as prime minister because he does not have that legal authority in our charter," Hussein, who was appointed prime minister in November 2007 to replace Ali Mohamed Ghedi, said at a press conference.

The international community, which supports the transitional government, has called on the two sides to bridge their differences and join efforts to work for the interests of the country and its people.

In a statement issued late Sunday, AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping said the sacking of the prime minister would undermine efforts to bring peace and further weaken the fragile transitional government of Somalia.

On Monday the European Union (EU) expressed concerns over the political developments in Somalia where the differences between the president and prime minister are threatening to bring down the fragile transitional government.

Somalia has been racked by fighting between different armed groups for 17 years. It has led to a surge in pirate attacks on international shipping off its coast.

Some 3 million people, around a third of the population, need food aid, aid agencies have said. About 1 million people have fled their homes.

Editor: Wang Hongjiang

Somalia: '80 MPs' Reject PM Vote - Speaker Criticizes President

Garowe on Line, All Africa, Dec 16, 2008

A group of lawmakers in Somalia have rejected Monday's confidence vote, which decisively backed interim Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein who is locked in a power-struggle with President Abdullahi Yusuf.
MP Abdulkadir Arale, who spoke on behalf of the dissident lawmakers, said they were "not aware" of a vote in parliament.

He dismissed results from Monday's vote, which gave Prime Minister Nur Adde a major boost of support.
The dissident lawmakers' spokesman claimed that the group includes 80 MPs, but inside sources told Garowe Online that about 40 to 60 MPs have rejected the vote.

Yusuf criticized Sheikh Adan "Madobe" Mohamed, the Speaker of parliament, told reporters in Baidoa that President Yusuf cannot fire Prime Minister Nur Adde.

"The President has no authority to dismiss Nur Adde's government, because the Parliament gave the confidence vote [to Nur Adde] on January 10 [2008]," Speaker Madobe said.

He defended Monday's confidence-vote that effectively ratified Prime Minister Nur Adde's new Cabinet, which has been rejected by President Yusuf.

Also Monday, new Cabinet ministers were "sworn-in" at Hotel Bakin in Baidoa, officials said.
It is not clear what move President Yusuf will make, but emerging reports indicate that he will appoint a new Prime Minister within days.

Somalia: Demonstration Against President in Mogadishu

15 December 2008

Shabelle Media Network, All Africa

Somalia —

A large demonstration against Somali president's decision of sacking Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein took place in different parts of Mogadishu on Monday.

The protestors who were shouting slogans against the president marched through Wadajir, Dharkeinlei, Abdi Aziz, Yaqshid, Shibbis, Bondhere, Shangani And Waberi districts in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

"We support the prime minister and his cabinet," Ahmed Adan who was among the protestors said.
"We are against the decision of the president which is unconstitutional," said another demonstrator.

Somalia' president Abdulahi Yusuf said he had sacked prime minister Nur Hassan Hussein on Sunday but legislators in Baidoa voted strongly in favour of keeping Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and his cabinet in office, going against the demand by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed that the prime minister be removed.

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