IC should step in to end Roble-Farmaajo feuds-Crisis Group

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The international community should flex muscle in the ongoing feuds between Prime Minister Mohamed Roble and outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo, International Crisis Group has said noting further talks between the two leaders will unlikely produce any results.

The policy think tank said in a brief the international community should count on its leverage in Somalia to bring press the two leaders to back down noting the country was on the brink.

“International partners should be ready to name those acting as spoilers, threaten sanctions if they do not change tack and prepare targeted measures, potentially including travel restrictions or asset freezes, against those who persist with actions that undermine Somalia’s stability and the prospects of getting to a quick election,” Crisis Group said.

Crisis Group also called on PM Roble and Farmaajo to climb down and focus on their respective roles in ensuring the long-overdue elections are completed. It warned against any attempts by Farmaajo to oust Roble by seeking the support of Lower House speaker Mohamed Mursal noting such a move would be detrimental to the electoral process and push the country further into the edge.

“The president should stick to his prior commitment to respect in word and deed the prime minister’s authority in handling logistics and security going into the vote,” the brief noted adding, Farmaajo should accept the prime minister’s appointee to run NISA and cease seeking to counter his every move.

Crisis Group also urged Roble to refocus his efforts on delivering elections.

The two leaders have been feuding since NISA went public to announce that its female agent Ikran Tahlil was killed by Al-Shabaab. The militant group has since since dismissed the allegations.

Attempts by South West President Abdiasis Lafta Gareen and his Galmudug counterpart Ahmed Qoorqoor last week hit a snag after it emerged that both Roble and Farmaajo stood ground regarding changes in NISA, Ministry of Security and the Ikran case.