Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Guled Hussein Qassim
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Somalia’s prime minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke fired his post and telecommunications minister, and appointed his successor in an apparent prolusion for a new alliance-building ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections which is due take place in the country this year.
No reason was given for the dismissal of Guled Hussein Qasim which was announced in a decree issued by the prime minister on Monday.
Mohamed Jama Mursal (Geele) was appointed as his successor. Mr. Qasim’s held the post since early last year.
According to sources, Mr. Mursal, a close ally of the Kismayo-based Jubbaland administration leader Ahmed Madobe. His appointment is parts of a process aimed at the formation of a strong political alliance by Somalia’s top leadership circle.
Mr. Madobe had recently also agreed to the power sharing arrangements proposed by Somali government after months of objections, shoring up Somali leaders’ proposal which secured the approval of the model of elections Somalia would hold from the country’s stakeholders.
President of Jubbaland State of Somalia Ahmed Madobe
In addition, the northern Somalia Puntland state which initially boycotted the initiative had later approved it on early April.
The horn of Africa nation is preparing for presidential elections which would see the incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud facing dozens of candidates running for the country’s top seat mid this year.
According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the government would come to an end in August and September 2016, respectively.