Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
HARGEISA (HOL) – Amid the apparent divisions within the ruling party, the president of the breakaway region of Somaliland has appointed new minister after resignations of 12 top officials including ministers and directors on Monday.
President Ahmed Silanyo accepted the resignations of the ministers including the foreign, justice and presidential palace who accused him of siding with Kulmiye party’s presidential candidate.
Dr. Said Ali Shire,was appointed as the foreign minister, replacing Mohamed Bihi who resigned along with other ministers while Ali Hassan Mohamed (Ali Mareexaan) was appointed as the general works and transport minister.
In the presidential decree issued Tuesday, president Silanyo has also appointed five more ministers to fill the positions abandoned by other ministers including the ministry of presidential palace, a long time close ally of the president.
The latest mass resignations by ministers and directors have dealt a big blow to the government of president Silanyo which is struggling to improve its public image despite public discontent towards his recent bid to extend his term for two more years.
Somaliland has escaped decades-old conflict which ravaged southern Somalia by building its independent army, finance system and government.
According to political analysts, the resignations reflected the political shakiness of the Somaliland government which has long credited for maintaining peace and political stability in the region.
The development could spark more defections within the government, they said.
Somaliland has declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, however, no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.