Somalia: Prime Minister sacks 3 Cabinet Ministers

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has sacked three senior Cabinet ministers, according to a statement released on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

Information Minister Abdirahman Yarisow announced the PM's degree firing the Foreign minister Yusuf Garaad Omar, Interior minister Abdi Farah Said Juha and Trade minister Khadra Ahmed Duale from their posts.

Juha who was expected to pay a visit to Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland today was unexpectedly relieved of his duty and replaced with Abdi Mohamed Sabriye, a political novice and Telecom businessman.

Yusuf Garaad Omar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is replaced by Ahmed Isse Awad, the current Somali ambassador to the United States.

The Trade minister Khadra Ahmed Duale has been replaced with the current Federal lawmaker and former Information Minister, Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareye.

It's not clear what prompted the sudden sackings of the key Ministers, however, it comes as the relation between PM Khaire and his former Interior Minister Abdi Farah has been at 'a low level' in recent times.

The current cabinet has been hit by resignations last year after Defence and humanitarian affairs ministers, Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed and Maryan Qasim respectively stepped down over what they termed as "confusion and disorder" in the government.

The army chief has also left the job, citing the same reason.

This unusual move coincides with a planned visit by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to Puntland next week, the first since he took power in February 2017.

GAROWE ONLINE