Somalia: UN Special Representative undermines TFG charter

The UN Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould  Abdalla supported the Somali president’s  decision to  dissolve the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia  led by Omar Abidrashid Ali Sharmarke.  In a statement Ahmedou Ould Abdalla said: “The President, in the face of a long and unnecessary crisis diverting resources, energy and attention, has taken an appropriate and courageous initiative to resolve the predicament. I would like to take the opportunity to encourage him in his show of leadership and invite all members of the Somali Parliament and former Cabinet to support him. This is an opportunity to appoint a more effective.”
The Somali prime minister, Omar Abidrashid Ali Sharmarke held a press conference in Mogadishu today and challenged president Sharif’s decision to dissolve the government. “The Transitional Charter states that a government will be dissolved if it loses the parliament’s vote of confidence.”
Article 44, point 2 of the transitional federal charter states: “Madaxweynuhu wuxuu magacaabayaa xilkana ka qaadayaa Wasiirka Koowaad ama kala diraa xukuumadda haddii ay waydo codka kalsoonidda Golaha Shacabka” (The president can appoint the prime minister  or dissolve the government if it loses the parliament’s vote of confidence.” Obviously,   president Sharif has violated  article 44 of  Somalia’s Transitional Charter. Article 43, point 2 of the charter states: “ Madaxweynaha waxaa la eedeyn karaa haddii uu ku xad-gudbo Axdiga iyado eedeytaas loo gudbinayo Golaha Shacbiga.” “The president can be indicted if he/she violates the charter. The matter should be referred to the parliament.”
If the transitional parliament convenes and the prime minister officially accuses the president of violating the transitional charter, discussion on the president’s intervention should come before allowing the prime minister to ask the parliament for a vote of confidence.
Ould Abdalla has undermined the charter by rushing to judgment in support of the TFG president.  Yesterday, Sheikh Yusuf Indha-cadde , onetime  warlord who joined the TFG after he split with his former boss, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys,  leader of Hizbul Islam, told the media, that the transitional federal government had supplied insurgents  with weapons. Indha-cadde  is/was the TFG Minister of State for Defense.
The TFG saw a similar power struggle  in 2008.  The former TFG president,  Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed,  sacked his prime minister Nur Hassan Hussein. “We have a charter.  The president can appoint a prime minister but he cannot sack a prime minister,” Nur Adde told the BBC Somali Service. The intentional community supported the former prime minister and persuaded the former TFG president to resign.
On this dawn of renewed tensions within in the TFG, many Somalis are asking themselves, what is the role of the UN representative in all this? Some believe that Mr.Abdalla undermined the transitional federal charter of Somalia by meddling in the TFG institutions. Should some one rein him in? can Mr.Ahmedou Oulad Abdalla act as an impartial UN Special Representative for Somalia?
Liban Ahmad
Horseed Media
libahm@gmail.com