Somalia President fights back against impeachment motion

MOGADISHU, Somalia, September 1, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Federal Government of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has wooed 125 lawmakers in the federal parliament amid political certainty, Garowe Online reports.

Mohamud whose ties to western donors and United Nations have been shaky since allegations of corruption surfaced in 2013 has got the backing of some MPs while challengers are insisting that the president be sent packing.

The fresh motion that bears the signatures of 125 MPs has been lodged with parliament speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari and aims to call off the binding challenge. .

Pro-Mohamud lawmakers are claiming the decision to impeach the President would impede the ongoing gains and may threaten the country’s nascent institutions.

Somalia’s often fickle chamber previously voted two Prime Ministers-Abdi Farah Shirdon and Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed-out of office in late 2013 and 2014 respectively.

8-member panel of UN investigators found pervasive corruption in confidential report.

United Nations envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Nicholas Kay later admitted that the findings dealt blow to donor confidence in Somalia’s first-ever permanent government since the ouster of long standing military dictator in 1991.

International community representatives have been calling for swift resolution to the political crisis created by the no confidence motion in the president.

On August 12, more than 90 members of parliament asked the president to resign on the grounds of constitutional violations and corruption.

Analysts who spoke to Garowe Online on condition of anonymity stress that parliamentary move landed Mohamud and his aides in hot water. 

GAROWE ONLINE