Somalia: Federal MPs vote second PM out of office

MOGADISHU, Somalia Dec 6, 2014 (Garowe Online)-Lawmakers in Somalia’s Federal Parliament have on Saturday ousted second Prime Minister in an overwhelming vote , bringing a month-long political standoff to an end, Garowe Online reports.

Of the 235 MPs on seven rows in parliament, 153 lawmakers voted in favor of the no confidence motion, 80 voted against while 2 MPs abstained from voting, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jaware announced.

Speaking to the media shortly after vote counting, speaker Jawari urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to appoint the next head of government in 30 days.

On December 12, Mohamud named the ousted Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed to the top political job weeks after parliamentarians sacked Abdi Farah Shirdon.

UN-backed weak central government in Mogadishu is battling Islamist insurgents in central and southern Somalia.

Controversial cabinet reshuffle by outgoing Prime Minister spawned bitter stalemate on October 15 after a key presidential aide and Minister of Constitution Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir was sidelined.

United Nations envoy to Somalia Ambassador Nicholas Kay later expressed concern over reports of vote buying, and called for political calmness.

Analysts tell Garowe Online that complex clan politics and personal loyalties further fuelled the recurrent damaging deadlock.

Over 20,000 strong African Union peacekeepers prop-up Somali National Army (SNA), the only credible fighting force in south-central regions.

GAROWE ONLINE