Somalia's opposition puts PM Roble on notice

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Council of Presidential Candidates in Somalia has asked Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to "take his job seriously" and ensure the country goes to elections as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary delays which could cause confusions further.

Somalia is yet to hold elections following a pre-election stalemate which is yet to be solved, with the opposition accusing the government of "engineering the delay". Farmajo's term expired on Feb 8 this year and has since rescinded the term extension decision.

But ahead of the much anticipated pre-election dialogue scheduled for May 20, the opposition wants Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to work faster and organize elections in the country for the sake of peace and stability.

Roble, they noted, should also stop unnecessary foreign trips and show some "independence" in making decisions. Roble attended the swearing-in of Djibouti President Omar Guelleh on Saturday, and the opposition's statement may have been referring to the trip.

"The council urges Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to show independence, stop unnecessary and wasteful foreign travels, and immediately begin to work on free, fair, and transparent elections agreeable to all and acceptable to Somali people," read the statement.

The Council of Presidential Candidates is led by former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud along with former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. The team might field a single presidential candidate when the country goes to the polls.

Somalia has already rejected the appointment of former Ghanaian President John Mahama as the High Representative for the African Union Commission to Somalia as a mediator but the opposition believes the former president is fit for the job.

GAROWE ONLINE