Somalia: Muse Bihireshuffles Somaliland cabinet

HARGEISA, Somalia - Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi has reshuffled his cabinet, a few months before the region holds elections, which were delayed by the elections board, leading to political squabbles which have since been ironed out following a stakeholders meeting.

The latest cabinet changes saw the regional leader discard four cabinet members as he re-organized his administration. The changes also saw the vacant ministries filled by new faces, as the administration sought to offer services to the people of the breakaway region.

Among those dismissed were the Minister of Agriculture, Abdikhadir Iman Warsame; the Minister of Communication, Dr. Abdiweli Sheikh Abdillahi Sufi Jibril; the Minister of Religion and Endowment, Abdirisakh Hussein Ali Albani; and the Minister of Investment, Abdi Osman Abdulle Dhaga-Weyne.

In addition, Bihi appointed Ahmed Yusuf Idris Awale as the Minister of Communications, Ahmed Adan Ahmed Buhane as the Minister of Education, Ahmed Mohamed Diriye as the Minister of Planning, Abdirisakh Ibrahim Mohamed as the Minister of Investment, Ali Hassan Mohamed as the Minister of Information, Saleban Yusuf Ali Koore as the Minister of Water, and Mohamed Haji Adan Elmi as the Minister of Religion and Endowments.

Further, Abdinasir Muhammed Hassan Buuni, the official spokesperson of the Kulmiye party, was appointed Minister of Parliamentary Relations and Constitutional Affairs. President Muse Bihi Abdi is set to defend his seat in the upcoming polls, but his party suffered immense losses in 2021 during local parliamentary elections.

Also, Bihi brought on board Rabbi Abdi Mohamed as the Minister of Fisheries, while Saleban Awad Ali Bukhari and Ahmed Mohamed Habbane were appointed Ministers of Roads and Agriculture. This was the most significant change done by Muse Bihi Abdi since he took office six years ago.

The changes come at the time the breakaway region has been tackling internal political pressure which saw opposition call for demonstrations over his leadership. Recently, the region has been at loggerheads with SSC-Khatumo forces, who have been fighting to be governed from Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE