The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamse Abdi Barre, has dismissed the State Minister of the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, Ismail Shire Jama, and the State Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Asad Abdirisaq Mohamed.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office, the decision was based on Articles 120 and 117 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the bylaws of the Council of Ministers. The statement also noted that the Prime Minister considered the need to strengthen and accelerate the activities of the relevant ministries.
The two officials who were dismissed resigned from their positions in early March, as they were among the MPs who opposed the constitutional amendments and the government’s interference in the regional states.
They were also among the MPs who returned to the cities of Garowe and Kismayo, where they expressed their support for the Puntland and Jubbaland administrations in their respective constituencies.
Government sources say Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre is expected to name the officials to fill the vacant positions within the next 24 hours. There are also other members from the Southwest who have also resigned from their positions in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the federal government is facing a difficult political situation, with less than two months left in its term, and the conflict between some of the country’s regional governments is intensifying.
