DOHA, Qatar – Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has arrived in the capital Doha on Monday, amid a political crisis at home.
Roble and his delegation departed from the capital Mogadishu for first trip to Doha at the invitation of Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Roble is scheduled to meet with top Qatari leaders to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors, according to his spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim Mo’alimu.
Roble, who is responsible for overseeing Somalia’s security and elections, is also expected to discuss the electoral process with the Emir of Qatar.
Reliable sources told Shabelle Media that Qatar is seeking to mediate between President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Roble amid ongoing political tensions.
Doha wants both leaders to resolve their current political impasse that escalated further for the past couple weeks.
Qatar is widely believed to have played a vital role in the 2017 election of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, reportedly funding his campaign with millions of U.S. dollars through Fahad Yasin, who was considered one of the most powerful figures in his administration.
The country’s power struggle also seems to have derailed the recent security gains made in the capital Mogadishu.
Since last month, three suicide explosions and armed clash took place in the capital, leaving nearly 40 people dead, with all attacks were claimed by al Shababab.
On Saturday, Somalia’s international partners urged both President Farmaajo and his premier Roble to continue to engage in mediated efforts to resolve their differences.
The diplomats expressed concern over the ongoing political uncertainty, which they said has increased the risk of further delays to the electoral process.
The partners said the political standoff had also created confusion over the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Security and spy agency whose effectiveness is vital to combating Al-Shabaab.
The al Qaeda linked group has been waging insurgency for more than ten years in Somalia.
The group carried out deadly bomb and gun attacks on Somali and AU army bases, while some suicide car bomb attacks targeted key areas in the capital Mogadishu.
The militant group was ousted out of the capital in 2011 by the allied forces, but it still holds large rural swaths in south and central of the war-ravaged nation.
By Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare
