Hiiraan Online
Sunday, June 19, 2011
"I have decided to exit from my office due to the situation of our country and for the interest of the
Somali people” Prime Minister Farmaajo told the local media in Mogadishu
“I wanted to change the political situation of the country, by showing that we must do some sacrifice for
our people and nation”
The premier said his resignation came as a result of unavoidable circumstances describing his exit as
the best option to settle the political uncertainty that have rocked the beleaguered Transitional Federal
Government of Somalia(TFG).
Hiiraan Online has learnt that there has been internal lobbying over the past few days, spearheaded by
some Ugandan delegation together with the office the Somali president that persuaded the resignation of
Prime Minister Farmaajo.
Farmaajo’s resignation also came after a series of meeting attended by president Sharif and Uganda's
chief of Defence Forces Major General Aronda Nyakairima.
While announcing his acceptance to relinquish power, Farmaajo hinted that he will remain in Somalia to
take part in nation building and help in the ongoing peace process by working with the current interim
government.
“I am extending my appreciation to the people and the republic of Somalia particularly the protesters
and the Somali army. I will never forget your role and urge the army to continue the work they are doing
now” he said
His position has been taken over temporarily by Somalia’s planning and puplic relations minister who is also a
deputy prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali.
"I am disturbed by the fact that Farmaajo is leaving the office, but I hope that he will be working with
us. I have thus accepted this position until such other time that the government announces a new prime
minister” Farmaajo’s successor Ali said
Somalia’s president Sharif welcomed the premier’s exit that was enshrined in the recent controversial
Kampala agreement which required the prime minister to leave office within a period of 30 days.
Farmaajo’s exit comes barely a few days after he defiantly appeared refusing to resign in Mogadishu’s
local media until the Somali parliament and cabinet approves the agreement.
Farmaajo, US-educated diplomat, who nurtured some good politics in Somalia, took over the office of
prime minister in October 2010 after his predecessor Omar Abdirashid Sharmaake left the job following a
similar longstanding disagreement between the federal institutions.
President Sharif is expected to name a new prime minister within a short period of two weeks. The
naming must be ratified by the bloated Somali parliament.