Somalia: Farmaajo clashes with PM Roble over UAE' seized $9.6 million

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A conflict has yet again emerged between embattled President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, just weeks after the two differed on elections which have almost plunged the country into chaos.

Farmaajo has been accused of stage-managing elections in his favour, triggering sharp rebellion from members of the opposition, who want the exercise to be repeated in several constituencies across the country.

But it's the seized $9.6 million from the United Arab Emirates [UAE] which seems to be the source of the current conflict, with Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble now ordering the money to be released to UAE, years after seizure by authorities in Mogadishu.

The money was seized in 2018 at Aden Adde International Airport as Somalia officials argued the money was intended to “destabilize” the country but UAE claimed it was for the salary of the Somali military as part of her effort to strengthen the military.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Mohamed Hussein Roble promised to return the money to UAE. Roble made the announcement after receiving food aid from UAE today to appoint a drought-affected population, which has left dozens of people dead.

But in a quick rejoinder, Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo ordered the governor of the central bank not to release the money seized from UAE in April 2018. In a letter, Farmaajo said the manner in which the $10 million was brought into Somalia was not in line with the government's financial system.

The pronouncement means the president did not agree with PM Roble. Throughout his tenure in office, Farmaajo has had a strained relationship with UAE, instead choosing Qatar as his Gulf partner on matters of economic stimulus and development.

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been battling over dominance in Somalia but the administration of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo seems to be favouring Qatar. Doha has been accused by the opposition of destabilizing Somalia.

So far, Somalia’s opposition leaders and at least one federal member state, Puntland, have so far welcomed Mohamed Hussein Roble’s efforts towards mending relations with UAE. It's not clear how Roble intended to have the money reverted back to UAE.

GAROWE ONLINE