Former Mogadishu mayor who was also the Governor of Somalia’s embattled Banadir region has lambasted hardline rebel Al-Shabaab group over decision to ban the United Nations WFP from distributing food aid in the country.

Mohamed Dheere

Mohammed Omar Habeb also known as Mohammed Dhere accused the group’s leader Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur of twisting the issue to suit his clan while inflicting misery to people from Mogadishu and other southern regions.

"Sheikh Robow banned the aid agencies from operating in between Afgoye and Mogadishu because he wants farmers from his region to sell their grains in high profit,” he said.

Al Shabaab is known as a multi-clan outfit of militants, and some foreign fighters, united by an ideology to establish an Islamic government in Somalia. The group has been accused of clan favors in the past.

“The decision to ban WFP from Somalia is meant to starve the few survivors of Al-Shabaab brutal attacks,” he added.

Commenting about the fragile Transitional Federal Government (TFG) led by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the ex-Mogadishu mayor said it is not different from its predecessors.

"Sharif’s government is not different from other previous administrations, because it has not added anything new other than inflicting terror and fear amongst the population," he said. 

The former Mayor, who returned to Mogadishu end of last year, was ousted from the office in early 2009 over claims that he misused the office, leading to his arrest by Ethiopian forces for allegedly planning to wage war against the government.

GAROWE ONLINE