Ahmed accepts defeat, urges lawmakers to remain united for sake of Somalia

Outgoing Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed (second right) is pictured on an historic visit to Baidoa on September 4, 2014. The Somali parliament ousted Ahmed on December 6th, after about a year in office. [Ahmed-nur Mohamed/OPM Photo]

By Warsame Afrah and Shukri Mohamed
Tuesday, December 9, 2014

advertisements

MOGADISHU — After less than one year in office, Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed was ousted from his post in a no-confidence vote Saturday (December 6th).

By a show of hands, 153 lawmakers voted to remove Ahmed from office, while 80 supported the continuation of the cabinet's work and two abstained.

"The motion against the government has won," announced Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari.

Jawari, who spoke briefly after the parliament's decision, called on lawmakers to remain united and move past the conflict that resulted in the parliament's inability to hold sessions.

"Parliament is the only governmental institution where each member is free to vote his conscience and take responsibility for his view and where the conflicting views of the Somali public can be democratically resolved," he said. "I thank the members of parliament for carrying out their duties peacefully and responsibly."

He also called on the president to name a prime minister as soon as possible so that the government's work does not come to a halt.

By law, the president has 30 days to announce a replacement for the prime minister.

The conflict between the president and the prime minister became apparent on October 25th after the Ahmed reshuffled his cabinet without Mohamud's support.

But after spending nearly six weeks at odds, both leaders took a conciliatory tone in addressing Somalis following parliament's vote.

"I want to thank all the lawmakers, the ones who voted yes, the ones who voted no and those who abstained. I also would like to thank them for accepting [to abide] by their rules," Mohamud said in statement Saturday.

"There are no winners or losers here," he said, thanking Ahmed and his cabinet for their service and urging Somalis to show them their due gratitude and respect for their efforts.

"To the Somali pubic, I would like to congratulate you and assure you that you have a government that is working democratically the way parliaments and governments work around the world," he said.

The lawmakers' actions are a testament that the "fears and concerns that the government would fall apart, that there would be ongoing conflict and destruction" were unfounded, he said.

"It has set a historical first for Somalia. We are saying Somalia has overcome the civil war, it has overcome the feuds and anarchy, and it has overcome the time were it could fall apart easily," Mohamud said.

"Today, Somalia has achieved progress and its governmental institutions are working fully," he said, thanking all stakeholders for their patience, integrity and for putting their trust in the government's institutions.

The president vowed the government would continue to work on its top priorities, which include implementing federalism in Somalia, carrying out a review of the constitution and preparing to hold elections in 2016.

For his part, Ahmed accepted the parliament's decision and called on all Somalis and international partners to remain focused on achieving Vision 2016 and the goal of delivering long-term stability, development and reform for Somalia.

"We must eradicate a culture of impunity, disregard for the law and corruption if Somalia is to make meaningful progress," he said in a statement released after the vote.

"My administration has been relentless in our pursuit for reform and we leave a solid foundation that carries the hopes and aspirations of all Somalis. These dreams must be realised," Ahmed said, adding that the outcome of the vote "must serve as a moment of reflection for leaders on their responsibility to the country and its people".

Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari presides over a no-confidence motion against Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on December 4, 2014. [Ali Adam/Sabahi]

A democratic, historic step

After the no-confidence vote, lawmaker Hosh Jibril, a lawyer who served as minister of constitutional affairs under the Transitional Federal Government of Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, told Sabahi that parliament had demonstrated its commitment to democracy.

"The Somali parliament has taken a democratic step, and it is really a historical event that shows Somalia has institutions that are capable of resolving conflicts when they arise," Jibril said.

Mohamed Amin Hassan Abdullahi, one of the lawmakers who supported the motion against Ahmed, said the decision put an end to the conflict within the country's legislative body.

"The parliament was unable to hold its regular sessions because of the conflict between the president and the prime minister," he told Sabahi. "The cabinet did not get any work done for 40 days. Most of the ministers called on the prime minister to resign. Now that it has happened, it is better to move things along."

Lawmaker Adam Sadiq, one of the lawmakers against the motion said he was concerned that the decision would hamper Somalia's work towards Vision 2016.

"The Somali people expect us to lead the country to a free election that the people can participate in," he told Sabahi. "If a prime minister is fired each year, it does not seem to me as though the vision will be realised."

"Time is running out," he said. "There is one year and eight months left now. Therefore, what could not be accomplished in the past [two] years cannot be accomplished in the remaining time."

Following the vote, Somalia's Attorney General Ahmed Ali Dahir and Auditor General Nur Jumale Farah issued a directive banning Somalia's cabinet officials from leaving the country pending the results of an investigation into alleged corruption.

In a letter sent to the offices of the president and prime minister on Saturday, Dahir and Farah ordered immigration authorities, police and the National Intelligence Unit to monitor the cabinet members' movements and financial activities.

"After having received reports of missing public money and other properties as well as misuse of power, we have directed the 25 cabinet members, the deputy ministers and the state ministers not to leave the country as there is an ongoing investigation," the letter said. Cabinet members and ministers planning to travel on official business must receive permission from the Office of the President, it said.

Focus on Vision 2016

Yusuf Hassan, editor of Xaqiiqo Times, said while it was concerning that the parliament has dissolved the second federal government within a year of taking office, it is crucial that all parties involved accept the vote and move forward.

Instead of occupying themselves with this motion, lawmakers should have been focused on the important work that must be completed ahead of the 2016 election, he said.

"Nevertheless, now that the vote has taken place, the selection of the new cabinet should be expedited in order to ensure that the government can carry out all the work needed," Hassan told Sabahi. "There are only two years left and it is a short period of time."

"Bringing back some of the ministers [from Ahmed's cabinet] could help achieve Vision 2016," he said, adding that continuity would prevent delays in the ministries' work due to a change in leadership.

Approving pending legislation on political parties should be at the top of the next government's agenda so that they can register in time to participate in the 2016 election, Hassan said.

The president's first challenge moving forward, he added, will be selecting a new cabinet without angering the lawmakers who voted against Ahmed and who might be expecting a ministerial position in return.

For his part, political analyst Hassan Sheikh Ali said the way the parliamentary motion was carried out indicates Somalia is moving away from clan-based governance and should be considered a sign of progress.

"First of all, conflict is always part of the political process," he told Sabahi. "But even though our leaders were in conflict, thanks to God, things did not turn out the way some people expected which was to [inject tribalism] into the matter."

"Many lawmakers who share the president's tribe were in the prime minister's camp and vice versa," he said. "The maturity and understanding of Somali politicians are allowing politics to be driven by ideology not tribalism."

To avoid similar conflicts in the future, however, Ali said the constitution should be reviewed to clarify conflicting articles, in particular the ones that define the responsibilities of the president and prime minister and were the root cause of the conflict between the two leaders.

Somalia still has a lot of work to do before direct elections can be held, he added.

"When one looks at what is needed to carry out an election and considers how elections occur around the world, it is clear it is not possible to have an election in 2016," Ali said. "Somalia needs reconciliation and reintegration and it does not look like that can be achieved in two years."

Home
Email

Hiiraan Online