Somali PM Accuses Opposition of Pushing Foreign Agendas Amid Mounting Political Unrest

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has lashed out at the opposition, accusing the group of advancing the agenda of foreign countries, even though he did not give any material evidence to defend his weighty allegations.

The strong allegations come amid protests from the opposition, which accuse President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of running the country with impunity, without adherence to the constitutional order, which they also accuse Hassan Sheikh of trying to infringe.

The PM says the opposition leaders must come with clean hands while pursuing things that are of great interest to the nation. He said that should the opposition come with genuine issues, the government will not hesitate to act.

"Do not come to us with your pockets full of proposals crafted by foreign governments. Come clean — we do not reject genuine Somali interests," said the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.

PM Hamza Abdi Barre met with Somali youth to reaffirm their vital role in national defence and electoral participation, calling them the backbone of Somalia’s democratic future. The country is struggling with instability.

Amid the pressure from the opposition, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also defended his administration, arguing that the opposition blames him for issues he is innocent of. He is under pressure to abort constitutional amendments.

"I once accused President Farmajo of staging a unilateral election to guarantee his victory — a charge that ultimately proved untrue," says Somalia's President Hassan Sh. Mohamud. "Now the same accusations are being levelled at me, and they are equally unfounded," he adds.

Puntland President Said Deni called on Somali political stakeholders to reject what he described as an unconstitutional power grab and rally to preserve the unity and stability achieved through decades of reconciliation efforts.

“If this trajectory continues, we risk a collapse that will return us to the chaos we overcame through painstaking national dialogue,” he warned, with Jubaland also joining Deni and former leaders in calling for order in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE