Ex-president calls for discipline in SNA days after PM Roble's attempted ouster

FILE: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud served as Somali president 2012-2016. He is now a candidate running for president.

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud now wants stern action to be taken against Somali National Army [SNA] commanders who attempted to block Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble from accessing his office.

Last week, a section of the army tried to block PM Roble from accessing his office hours after outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo attempted to suspend him over an electoral feud that has dragged the country from making progress for almost 12 months.

The army, which is supposed to be neutral on politics, is said to have taken sides, with some now supporting Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble. A number of them now want Farmaajo to leave office and allow elections to take place.

On Friday in Mogadishu, Mohamud, who served as the eighth president of Somalia, said the commanders should take responsibility for their actions which he termed as "totally disappointing".

“The military commanders who ordered the anti-government activities, including the cessation of rallies and failed coups, must be held accountable,” the former president and current presidential candidate said. “The consistency of their words and actions is the only thing that counts.”

Last week, Chief of Defense Forces General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh also warned the military against engaging in politics. The army chief insisted that the military should be neutral on political issues.

The UPD party leader also castigated Farmaajo for ‘doing everything that could lead to a civil war. Security forces allied to Farmaajo blocked Roble from heading to his office on December 27 forcing the PM to walk on foot alongside some ministers to his office located within Villa Somalia.

Roble, who is barely a year in office, termed Farmaajo as a former president and accused him of an ‘attempted coup’. The incident followed a series of events from the Christmas period which saw bitter exchanges between the two leaders.

Several international partners including the United States and the European Union have condemned the attempted coup against PM Roble. The partners want the two leaders to solve their differences amicably instead of dividing the country.

GAROWE ONLINE