Saturday January 1, 2022
Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has
issued a statement calling for the “utmost restraint” and “continued
engagement” between Somalia’s prime minister and the country’s
president, amid a deepening political crisis that has sparked widespread
international alarm.
In recent days, heavily armed factions loyal to either party could be
seen patrolling parts of the capital Mogadishu, raising fears that the
tensions could erupt into violence.
On Tuesday, soldiers loyal to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble
took up positions near the presidential palace a day after President
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmajo, announced the
suspension of the premier, who accused him of an “attempted coup”.
Relations between the pair have long been frosty, but the latest
developments have sparked concerns for Somalia’s stability as the
country struggles to hold long-delayed elections and fight a jihadist
insurgency.
Faki said the African Union remained committed to scaling up its support for durable peace and political stability in Somalia.