U.S. opposes attempted suspension of Somali PM

File photo: US secretary of state Antony Blinken. (Reuters)

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The United States has renounced the attempted suspension of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, arguing that the move is a new strategy to sabotage elections in Somalia, after months of coordination and fiscal assistance from international partners.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday placed a phone call to Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, in which the current situation in Somalia dominated. Kenya sits in the United Nations Security Council [UNSC].

Blinken, who represents President Joe Biden, said the attempted suspension of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo was ill-advised, adding that both parties should sit and de-escalate tensions.

"The Secretary noted the U.S. opposition to the attempted suspension of Prime Minister Roble, and they agreed that all parties should refrain from the escalatory actions and statements," read the statement from Ned Price, the official spokesperson.

President Uhuru Kenyatta remains the US strategic partner from East Africa and has been playing an integral role in promoting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa nation. Kenya has quite a number of AMISOM troops in Somalia.

The Secretary of State Blinken further said Somalia should conclude parliamentary and presidential polls for the sake of stability, adding that the exercise should be free, fair, and credible by meeting all international standards.

"On Somalia, the Secretary underscored the importance of Somalia’s national and Federal Member State leaders concluding parliamentary and presidential elections immediately and free from irregularities that would jeopardize the credibility of the outcome," added the statement.

Farmaajo has been accused of micromanaging the electoral exercise in Somalia, with the opposition accusing him of trying to impose his lieutenants in Lower House elections. This has escalated tensions between him and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

GAROWE ONLINE