WardheerNews ( WDN) – A political rift has emerged once again between Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Somalia, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia over a ministerial reshuffle. In a press release from the office of the President, the President heaps blame on the Prime Minister for carrying out a cabinet reshuffle without consulting the presidency, stating that it is unconstitutional for the Prime Minister to embark on such political measures without his blessings.

The timing of this dispute could not have been worse, when a high level delegation lead by the UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon is touring the region, in an effort to revive Somalia’s economy and that of the Horn in general.

Reviewing the list of the cabinet reshuffle, though not significant, however, it is evident that the PM has picked on a few close confidants of the President most notably Farah Sheikh Abdikadir who was formerly the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs and will from now on become the Minister for the Environment and Livestock. Farah will be replaced by Salim Aliyow Ibrow, who in 2007, briefly served as Acting Prime Minister of Somalia following the resignation of former Premier Ali Mohammed Ghedi.

Some of the new appointments include assistant ministers and state ministers. Bur’i Mohamed Hamza, the former State Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has been moved to the Ministry of Finance and has been replaced in his previous position by Abdullahi Mohamed Nur; Abdirahman Abdi Osman is now the new Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; while the new Deputy Minister for Commerce and Industries is Fahmo Ahmed Nur.

As the two highest ranking political and public figures of Somalia, the Prime Minister and the President have a responsibility to serve and protect the citizens of the nation and safeguard the constitution without getting involved in clan politics and inclination to favoritisms. The ordinary Somali citizens expect the two leaders to work together, avoiding unnecessary political medleys, and move forward so that the nation can be delivered to a safer political destination. Its time for the two to reconcile and lay the foundation for reconciliation that will lead to political maturity.

WardheerNews