Amid escalating row, PM Roble visits Farmaajo’s ally, Doha

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Qatar, a close ally of outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo is today hosting Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Roble amid speculations the Gulf nation could be seeking to intervene in the ongoing political circus in Mogadishu.
Roble jetted off to Doha shortly after his political rival Farmaajo headed to Addis Ababa for the inauguration of his ally Abiy Ahmed for a second term as Ethiopian PM.
PM spokesman Mohamed Moalimuu said the invite by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Roble sought to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
However, sources privy to the PM’s visit have noted the ongoing feuds between Roble and Farmaajo could the main reason for the visit.
The two leaders have failed to resolve their differences despite interventions by South West president Abdiasis Lafta Gareen and his Galmudug counterpart Ahmed Qoorqoor. Two Galmudug ministers announced late September they were puling out of the talks accusing Farmaajo of intransigence.