Ministerial Changes Come Amid Security Lapses and Diplomatic Fall-Outs

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The mini-cabinet reshuffle Sunday mainly targeting the Foreign Affairs and Defence comes amid recent diplomatic disputes with some AU envoys and the challenging security situation in the country.

Then Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Fiqi expelled ATMIS deputy Sivuyile Bam last week over his remarks at the UN Security Council, which the minister said sought to legitimise Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

During the briefing, Bam reportedly told the council that Al-Shabaab was seeking political legitimacy in Somalia owing to reduced targeted attacks on civilians.

“He has shown himself to be a supporter of Al-Shabaab and an obstacle to Somalia’s progress,” Fiqi said.

Fiqi was on Sunday moved to head the ministry of defence while Jibril Abdi has been moved from defence to become the second deputy prime minister. Abdisalam Ali Dhaay who served as second deputy prime minister now become the minister of foreign affairs.

The expulsion of Bam was however, criticised on the grounds that it came at a time Somalia was seeking support from African countries to counter the Al-Shabaab resurgence.

The changes at the Defence headquarters were also seen as a move by the prime minister to reinvigorate the efforts against Al-Shabaab amidst a loss of key territories in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, Al-Shabaab took control of the strategic Adan Yabal town in the Middle Shabelle region. Fiqi, who served previously as Interior Minister at the Federal level and Internal Security Minister in Galmudug state is expected to inject more energy and moral in the defence arena as the Somali National Army re-strategises to jumpstart the war against Al-Shabaab.

Security analysts have raised concerns over the bold resurgence of Al-Shabaab and reduced pace of military offensives against the group especially at a time the country is preparing for local council elections in several parts of the country through the one-person-one-vote electoral model.