Wednesday May 4, 2022
Credit: Villa Somalia
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Abdullahi has suspended all decisions on administrative and personnel changes in government agencies until the completion of the presidential election, which is expected to take place this month.
In a decree issued on Tuesday, Farmajo said the directive would be effective as of April 14, when Somalia's 11th parliament was sworn in. He said that it would prevent abuse of office.
The decree explicitly lists several critical positions as untouchable.
"The President, therefore, nullifies all changes & appointments made after April 14 & urges Director-General of the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs, Acting Director-General of the National Telecommunications Authority & Somali bureau of standards to continue serving their duties."
President Mohamed Abdullahi ordered government agencies to refrain from taking advantage of public powers and assets for private interests and in a way that does not serve the country's public interest, saying that everyone is held accountable for the abuse of national property and power.
Farmajo's orders come as PM Roble reportedly approved multiple appointments to the government late last month.
It also comes amidst growing calls for the Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources, Abdirashid M. Ahmed, to step down for his ill-planned exploration contract with Coastline Exploration, a rebrand of the disgraced British oil company Soma Oil.
The group, which former PM Hassan Ali Khaire once headed, was accused in a UN report of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to senior Somali civil servants.
PM Roble and President Farmajo have both distanced themselves from the Coastline Exploration agreement, calling it illegal. However, Minister Ahmed is still at the helm of the petroleum portfolio, which has raised eyebrows within the Somali government.
A parliamentary session is planned for Wednesday, which will set up the committee to organize the presidential elections. Somalia's president has been without a legal mandate since February 2021.