Plot to kick out Somalia PM derailed by hecklers

MPs disrupted Somalia Parliament just as the House was scheduled to discuss a motion of no confidence against Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.

Although the media was kept out of the House, interviews with MPs reveal that lawmakers started chanting and singing, making it impossible to conduct business in the House.
It was the third disruption in three weeks.

The PM warned that his planned ouster would impede development in the country, which has been rocked by civil war for two decades.
Africa Union troops, including Kenyan forces, are stationed in Somalia to protect the Mogadishu government.

Mr Ahmed has been at loggerheads with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud over a Cabinet reshuffle.

Later in the day, PM Ahmed addressed the media, telling the public that the problem between him and President Mohamoud was centred on a minor Cabinet reshuffle on October 25.

 “It (the reshuffle) arose out of a need to resolve a conflict between the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice as well as other concerns within the Finance and Foreign Affairs ministries,” said PM Ahmed. The President opposed the reshuffle and ordered the ministers affected not to move.

He added, “On the same day, the Office of the President issued a statement, which termed the reshuffle as inconsequential and further directed the affected ministers to disregard the reshuffle directive.”

CHANTS AND SONGS

On Monday, the parliamentary session ended without a clear cut process as rebel MPs continued the disruptions. The group wanted to pass it during Monday’s session but were disrupted by the chants.

In the afternoon, Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari issued a statement, saying that he could not control some of the legislators and thus the motion could not be discussed.