Leadership wrangle hits Somalia's transitional government
A leadership wrangle within the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia poses a big threat to the country's stability.
Major Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman of the African Union Mission in Somalia, Amisom has expressed concerns about a rift saying that that it is worrying the AU peacekeepers, even more that the militias.
Differences between the country's speaker of the parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden and President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed have made it difficult for the transitional government to effect some of its programmes.
On one hand, Mr Aden insists that the parliament’s term should be extended for the three years but the posts of president, the speaker of parliament and the two deputy speakers be subjected to elections before the end of the TFGs term on August 20, this year.
The threat
This is the opposite position held by President Ahmed who favours a one year extension for all the transitional federal institutions including the presidency, the cabinet and the parliament. This, argues the president, will give the executive some time to clear pressing transitional tasks including security improvement, preparation of a constitution and mapping out a federal structure for Somalia.
Speaking to the media, major Akunda stated that the crisis should be resolved quickly to facilitate the operations of the peacekeepers.
“Al-Shabaab is not a problem to us. We do not see it as a problem,” remarked the Amisom spokesman. “We view the crisis within the TFG as a trouble,” he added.
Uganda and Burundi are keeping nearly 10000 peacekeepers in Mogadishu, guarding vital installations like the port and the airport while also helping the pro-government forces defending strategic positions.
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