Somalia’s Top Three Men Leave for Addis Ababa

By Salaad Iidow Hasan (Hiis), Hiiraan Online
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Friday August 15, 2008

President Yusuf, Speaker of Parliament Adan Madoobe and Prime Minister Nur Adde

Mogadishu, Somalia (HOL) – The President of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia Mr. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and his Prime Minister Mr. Nur Adde have left Mogadishu this morning for Addis Ababa. Reports also say that the Speaker of the TFG Mr. Sheik Adam Mohamed Nur has left Baidao for Addis Ababa as well.

It is believed the three men have been summoned to Addis Ababa by Ethiopian leaders to mediate rising tensions between the President and the Prime Minister over the recent dismissal of the former Mayor Mogadishu Mr. Mohamed Omar Habeb. The Mayor was dismissed by the Prime Minister and his cabinet for financial mismanagement and incompetence. The President, however, opposes his dismissal and reinstated him.

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It is reported that the Speaker of the Parliament was summoned as well to help him calm tension among MPs who have broken into two factions siding with either the President or the Prime Minister over the crisis.

Observers believe that the Ethiopian government which has troops estimated at the thousands in Somalia and wields the real power in Somalia will try to convince either the President or the Prime Minister to compromise. Ethiopian government undertook similar mediation between the President and his former Prime Minister Prof. Ali Mohamed Gedi.

The Ethiopian government has interest in resolving the crisis immediately and in the least disruptive way since it has thousands of troops in Somalia who, according to the Djibouti Accord, are expected to leave Somalia within 120 days. Moreover, Ethiopian government claims to have invaded Somalia to defeat militant Islamists who are currently waging bloody war against their troops and the TFG troops. Therefore, a rift among the TFG leaders will undoubtedly strengthen Islamic insurgents and weaken TFG.

Additional contribution by Mohamed Amin Ahmed, Hiiraan Online
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