Somalia's new PM pledges major reforms in a very short time

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's path to recovery resumed on Sunday after the newly appointed Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble assumed office on Sunday just a day after a parliamentary approval, but the procedure used could raise further constitutional questions given the absence of his predecessor Hassan Khaire.

At his office, Roble pledged to institute specific reforms in the country for the next four months just before the country goes to elections, vowing to focus on security, implementing polls deal as well as violence against women and children, which has been a major concern for the international community and local actors.

For the last couple of years, cases of rape and child abuse have significantly risen in Somalia, and perpetrators have often gone unpunished due to a lack of a binding law that handles such cases. In most instances, community elders solve such cases locally.

But Roble, who formally worked with the International Labor Organization [ILO], said his duty will involve looking for an immediate solution to avert rising cases of violence against women. His office, he added, willfully involve parliament in passing required legislation for the purpose of making them legally binding.

Shortly after his speech, Roble paid a visit to the US ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto at the heavily fortified Halane Base Camp where they discussed a host of issues. Among others, the two leaders debated the importance of timely implementation of the pre-election deal, good governance, and continued economic and security reforms in Somalia.

"Delighted to congratulate Mohamed Roble on his confirmation as Somalia’s Somali PM. We agreed today on the importance of timely implementation of the election agreement, good governance, and continued economic and security reform," the US embassy said.

But the procedure of handing over to Roble has triggered constitutional questions. Contrary to the aspirations of the provisional constitution, Roble was ushered in by Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled, who had been serving as caretaker since July, instead of the immediate former PM Hassan Ali Khaire.

Wadajir Party leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame termed the process "illegal and unconstitutional" in his address on Sunday. The former PM, he claimed, "is part of the illegal process. He knows the procedure and he should have done what is required of him by the law".

Prof Hassan Keynan opines that Khaire should handover responsibilities he had to the Somali people, the two chambers of parliament, and regional leaders, and inform media he has done so. If that is blocked, he should publish it online redacting any sensitive information, he notes.

As a candidate for president, Keynan adds, Hassan Khaire should come clean on several issues among them the extradition of Qalbi Dhagah, the overthrow of former speaker bJawari, deal with Ethiopia on four ports, the interference of ENDF in regional elections, and reasons that led to his ousting.

Khaire was unceremoniously removed by MPs in July shortly after the conclusion of the Dhusamareen II conference which he was part of. Since then, the former Oil executive has announced a bid to contest against President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo early next year when the country goes for elections.

Parliament agreed to implement the newly agreed electoral deal which will see the country holding elections this year. The elections will culminate in the presidential polls in February 2021, where MPs will pick the next president of the Horn of Africa nation.

GAROWE ONLINE