Somalia: Jubaland Accuses President Hassan Sheikh of Undermining Federalism   

KISMAYO, Somalia - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is undermining federalism and should be called out for his dictatorial tendencies, Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe said, arguing that the National Consultative Council (NCC) remains defunct and unconstitutional.

At Kismayo, the regional administrative capital of Jubaland, Madobe said President Hassan Sheikh has failed to trigger the much-needed reconciliation, adding that the divisive nature of the leadership, which is on its sunset.

The federal government, he said, was seriously taking the country to a centralised system, which had been discarded many years ago. Hassan Sheikh, he added, has failed to make necessary consultations whenever making consequential decisions.

“Enough is enough,” Madobe said, urging Somalia’s political stakeholders to urgently convene to chart a new national course. He is one of the leaders who boycotted the NCC meeting in Mogadishu, convened by Hassan Sheikh.

For Somalia to progress, he added, there is a need for the leadership to have genuine dialogue with the aim of instilling constitutional order. The federal leaders were sidelined during the change of electoral laws and the constitution, he said.

Hassan Sheikh's much anticipated party, he added, was much similar to the Somali Revolutionary Socialist party, which led to the collapse of the state in the 90s. The party was headed by Siad Barre, the dictator who was toppled over three decades ago.

However, he noted that, unlike Barre’s regime, the current party lacks grassroots support and institutional control, describing it as “toothless.” In the communique from the NCC, the leadership agreed to collaborate in the fight against Al-Shabaab, besides insisting on promoting direct polls.

The meeting was boycotted by Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe and his Puntland counterpart, Said Abdullahi Deni. However, the teams that attended approved the new state dubbed SSC-Khatumo, which covers Sool, Sanag and Caen regions.

The United States sharply rebuked the move, stating that any decisions altering Somalia’s federal or electoral frameworks require a broad consensus. But even with the protest of the US, the federal government has yet to react to the concerns.

GAROWE ONLINE