Speaker Hashi ‘very angry’, sharply differs with PM Roble over Somaliland question

GOOBJOOG NEWS/MOGADISHU: Talks between Prime Minister Mohamed Roble and Senate speaker Abdi Hashi hit a brick wall Monday after it emerged the Federal Government was keen on handing more influence to Deputy PM Mahdi Guled in the elections of Somaliland lawmakers.
A very closed source to Hashi said the outgoing speaker was ‘very angry’ and that the two leaders failed to reach a deal despite claims by officials at the PM office that the issue had been resolved.
Roble and Hashi held a closed meeting Monday in Mogadishu following sharp disagreements between the Senator and DPM Guled. A statement released by the Somaliland political caucus headed by Hashi said Monday they had agreed with the deputy prime minister on an equal basis regarding the composition of the interim elections Committee. Guled however fiercely rejected the claims terming them ‘baseless and void.’ In the meeting yesterday, Roble told Hashi he would be allotted five seats to the polls Committee which is just an addition of one seat from the Baidoa Technical Committee proposal.
Hashi flatly rejected the proposal, our source said leading to unceremonious end of the meeting. The committee will likely comprise about 15 members based on previous practice and other regional governments. Roble’s proposal would therefore mean Guled will appoint two thirds of the seats.
Sources earlier told Goobjoog News outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo was pushing for Guled’s control in the Somaliland process to allow him influence in the election of MPs and Senators to represent the breakway region in the Federal Parliament. Hashi has variously argued he should have more say being the senior most elected official from Somaliland in the Federal Government.
According to the source Hashi warned Roble against releasing a communique from the ongoing electoral talks before an agreement is reached. The speaker threatened to go public on the matter should the PM close the meeting with FMS leaders before resolving the Somaliland question, the source said.