Monday November 11, 2019
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Somali government has termed statements by former president Sheikh Sharif Ahmed as ‘astonishing’ and not befitting the status of a former head of state.
Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Mareye said in a televised statement Sunday evening president Sharif’s remarks went against what is expected of a former president.
“Somali government is surprised by the remarks of former President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed,” Mareye said. “Such does not befit the status of a former head of state.”
Addressing a press conference Sunday evening, Sharif sensationally said the opposition will remove the current government from power just Al-Shabaab and warlords were kicked out of Mogadishu.
The visibly angry Sharif warned the government to ‘stop its oppression’ of the opposition or ‘we will remove them.”
Sharif made the remarks upon arrival from Beletwyene where he had travelled to deliver relief aid to victims of the floods in the central Somalia town.
He was accompanied by former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and opposition MPs.
The opposition politicians accused the federal government of attempting to block their travel to Beletweyne citing poor state of the airport.