Hiiraan Online
Sunday, June 14, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL)----Somalia’s president has rubbished media reports that the government is planning a new cabinet reshuffle that would relieve most of the current cabinet’s ministers of their portfolios.
Speaking to the reporters in the Somali capital late on Friday, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud termed the rumors as ‘milicious’, assuring public that there would be no reshuffle, however, he warned of a possible dismissal of ‘ineffective’ ministers.
“That’s null and void. I don’t think a reshuffle would help the country at this present time.” He said.
In the meantime, Mr. Mohamud has also hinted plans aimed at strengthening the weakened Somali shilling against the mighty US dollar to ease economical burdens in the country as result of shortages of funding by the international donors.
“The money we receive from donors are not enough, therefore we shall print a new Somali currency to keep the Somali shilling afloat.” He said.
Somalia’s shilling has suffered serious depreciations since the central government was overthrown in 1991, as most of bank notes’ brands have been abandoned, leaving the one thousand shilling standing
alone as the official Somali currency.
Having survived against great odds, the shilling now faces a serious challenge in the form of dollars transferred by mobile phone.
The UK’s Economist newspaper reported that the shilling's endurance suggests it should not be counted out. If it can survive without a government, it can probably brush off modern technology, including the popular mobile banking service.