A career military man, Somalia's interim leader is not known for his sympathy or soft words. The 2002-2004 Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, was attended by all major armed factions in the country, excluding the separatist region of Somaliland and Mogadishu's Islamic Courts movement. The conference's successful conclusion resulted with a clan-based TFG Parliament, which in turn elected a President who appoints a Prime Minister – to rule Somalia for an interim, five-year term.

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed

Many believe that Yusuf' s election as Somali president grew out of a need for a military strongman with a reputable background in governing. As leader of Somalia' s northeastern state of Puntland, Yusuf organized a regional government with its own security forces, administrational structures and a vision to be part of a future federal Somalia. Yet others suspect that the 2004 election in Nairobi was rigged by Ethiopia to install Yusuf in power – a close ally of Addis Ababa.

But after four years, there is very little to celebrate in Somalia. The killing has not stopped; in fact, Mogadishu locals have reported that the ongoing cycle of violence is the worst the Somali capital has ever seen. The U.N. estimates that upwards of 3.2 million civilians countrywide are in need of food assistance, but piracy along Somalia's uncontrolled waters continues to aggravate the humanitarian crisis. The international community hopelessly watches Ethiopia boggled down in an unrelenting web of attacks, as a small number of African Union peacekeepers try to protect each other.

Ruling

The government is not troubled only by armed groups like the Islamists or clan insurgents, but has many opponents within. On Tuesday, the Somali President's spokesman told Garowe Online that the High Court has overturned a recent parliament decision. READ:  President has 'no authority' to change Parliament’s vote: Speaker

"After research, the High Court tossed out the parliament's vote and ruled that the Cabinet ministers can work," said Hussein "Hubsired" Mohamed, the presidential spokesman. Ten ministers out of a 15-seat Cabinet resigned in July after a dispute surfaced between President Yusuf and Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein.

The TFG leaders traveled to Addis Ababa in August and reconciled their differences, signing an agreement that included the return of the ten pro-Yusuf ministers. Yesterday, Prime Minister Nur Adde convened a full Cabinet at his Mogadishu office for the first time since July, government officials said.

The present dispute is reflective of wider constitutional issues regarding the separation of powers and the federal system, analysts say. Further, the involvement of foreign powers in helping resolve TFG crises remains a worrying sign about the government's dependence on outside aid in all spheres of power.

A conference with an unpublicized agenda is scheduled to open in Nairobi later this month, which will be attended by the entire TFG and hosted by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) – a grouping of East African countries. There is widespread speculation that IGAD leaders are disappointed with the performance of the TFG and the persinent personal squabbles among its leaders. With one year left in its mandate, the TFG will have to work together towards success – or betray each other towards failure.

Source: Garowe Online