Somali PM sacks top Intelligence officials in a shudder move that irked Farmajo

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The prime minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble has on Friday fired two senior Intelligence officials in an unexpected move that reportedly irked the outgoing president Farmajo.

In a statement, the PM’s office announced that NISA's HR Director Abdullahi Kulane and the chief of the Somali intelligence unit at Mogadishu airport Abdiwahab Sheikh Ali have been relieved of their duties.

The dismissal came hours after the NISA officials have barred parliamentary candidates, including ex-Gedo governor Osman Moalim from boarding a flight at Mogadishu airport to the country's southern Garhabarey city.

Abdullahi Kulane, who is a close ally of the term-ended President has been accused of targeting opposition figures seeking to run for parliamentary seats from their constituencies, mainly in Gedo.

Kulane and NISA’s airport chief were accused of violating PM Roble's order issued July 21 that warned security officials against blocking citizens, especially the candidates from traveling at Aden Abdulle Int’l airport.

NISA’s deputy boss who once became Farmaajo's short-time deputy chief of staff faced allegations that he curtailed the rights of the citizens for freedom of movement in the country as the constitution stipulated in an attempt to prevent Farmaajo’s critics from the next election.

“The Prime Minister reiterates that a legal action would be taken against anyone who violated the country's constitution and dared to disrupt the electoral process he is leading,” said the statement.

Sources close to Villa Somalia, the statehouse revealed to Garowe Online that the outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo is unhappy about the sacking of the spy officials and will try to reinstate them in office.

Farmaajo who disowned his two-year illegal term extension last April has handed over the indirect election management and the security to his PM last May, paving the way for an inclusive FGS-FMS electoral deal.

GAROWE ONLINE