Politics

Somalia PM bares fangs, orders AU Envoy out of country

Published

3 years ago

April 7, 2022

The Prime Minister of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble, has given the African Union Chair’s Special Envoy for the country, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, 48 hours to leave the country after declaring him a persona non grata.

Roble who took the hard stance in a statement on Thursday, accused Madeira of “engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status,” and also requested that the AU Commission recall Madeira and “comply with this request.”

The move to expel Madeira came just days after the U.N. Security Council authorized a new AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to operate in the country until the end of 2024. ATMIS replaces the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

But the move by Roble could lead to another round of dispute between him and President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who rejected the expulsion of Madeira.

African Union Chair’s Special Envoy for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira

In a counter statement, the President said that he had not authorized any action against Madeira, adding that he had not received any reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madeira committing acts against the sovereignty of the country.

The President’s statement insinuated that the decision to expel Madeira was issued by an office that didn’t have sole responsibility for making such a crucial decision.

The Mozambique-born Madeira, who was appointed to the office in October 2015, is not the first foreign diplomat to be expelled from Somalia as his deputy, Simon Mulongo, was expelled in November 2021.

In January 2019, the Somalian government had declared former United Nations Envoy to the country, Nicholas Haysom, a persona non grata for “violating protocols” and interfering in Somalia’s affairs and subsequently expelled.

Haysom’s expulsion came after he had asked the government whether UN-supported forces were involved in the shooting of demonstrators in Baidoa in December 2018.

Related Topics:African Union Featured Somalia

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

5 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

5 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.