Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said the success of the upcoming talks on Somalia’s presidential and parliamentary elections will depend on first reforming the country’s security chiefs.
Sharmaake added the prime minister Rooble needs a “stable environment to succeed in his heavy responsibilities”.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has handed over to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble “to lead the electoral process and the overall national security plan”.
“The divide within the Security Forces can undermine ongoing election talks. The PM deserves stable environment to successfully negotiate and manage the electoral process. This context urgently requires security sector leadership reform in order to integrate and repair the forces” Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said.
The divide within the Security Forces can undermine ongoing election talks. The PM deserves stable environment to successfully negotiate and manage the electoral process. This context urgently requires security sector leadership reform in order to integrate and repair the forces
— Omar Sharmarke (@OmarSharmarke) May 4, 2021
Opposition politicians believe Roble is still not independent in some decisions, and have urged him to make changes in the security apparatus in order to gain full confidence.
EU Ambassador to Somalia Nocolas Berlanga has previously called for the withdrawal of troops from Mogadishu, where both government and opposition forces are based.
Berlanga called on anyone wishing to play a positive role in the country’s elections to support Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble in his key role.
Demilitarise Mogadishu is the priority now. Those that want to play a positive role towards elections should support PM Roble in his key tasks. Division of Mogadishu with militias or out-of-line-of-command security forces is not helping Somali people
— Nicolas Berlanga (@NBerlangaEU) May 3, 2021
On Sunday (April 25th), military forces entered Mogadishu and said they were opposed to the extension of the term of Parliament, which was later fought by other government forces.
Prime Minister Roble calls for troops to leave the capital and return to their bases, troops from both sides are still inside Mogadishu.
