Somalia: Interior minister excluded from PM appointed committee

Mogadishu, Somalia - Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has excluded the country's Interior Minister Abdi Farah Sa'eed "Juha" from the new National emergency committee, Garowe Online reports.

The committee made up of Ministers and members from the civil society are tasked with the coordination of the efforts to assist the victims of Saturday's deadly truck bombing in Mogadishu's Km5 intersection.

It's yet unclear reason behind the move, however, it comes amid disagreement between the PM and his interior in the past few months.

The two officials were reported to be in deadlock over the Federalism and the sacking of former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Prof Yahye Ali Ibrahim early this year.

PM Khaire appointed Ibrahim as his Federal and Constitution adviser despite rift over the implementation process of the two laws.

The Minister of Security, Mohamed Abukar Islow "Dualle" was picked to chair team that is working on government's support mission.

GO learned, citing reliable sources that the members of the committee, the ministers, deputies and state ministers are a close ally of the Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.

The sources added that the council of ministers for the Federal government of Somalia is divided into two parts, one allied to the PM's office and the other isolated for being independent serving.

Last week, the minister of defense, Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed resigned following lack of collaboration and fall-out with the Prime Minister over a dispute on the foreign financial aid to Somali military, sources said.

The Minster of humanitarian and disaster management, Dr. Maryam Qasim is the key ministers barred from becoming members of the new Committee.

GAROWE ONLINE