Somalia: Southwest MPs in deadlock over anti-president Motion

BAIDOA, Somalia - The lawmakers of Somalia's southern Federal member state of Southwest are in a standoff over a reported no-confidence motion against President Sharif Hassan, Garowe Online reports.

More 50 members of the State's assembly have held an extraordinary meeting in Baidoa, the interim administrative capital of Southwest on Wednesday, in which they debated the anticipated motion.

Speaking to GO, Hassan Moalim Idow (Hassan Black) who was among the lawmakers participated in the gathering said they agreed to defend the President from the current efforts aimed to oust the President.

This came after opposition legislators, well-known politicians and former Ministers have held several meetings in Mogadishu, the Somali capital who accused President Sharif Hassan of incompetence.

The deadlock has been intensifying since the regional leader has officially opened the 4th session of Southwest state Parliament in Baidoa last month, and urged the MPs to work with his administration.

President Aden is among five regional Presidents attending a high-level consultative forum between Federal member states and Somalia's Federal government which is currently ongoing in Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE