Somali MPs demand president quit, threaten impeachment
Thu May 8, 2014 4:45pm GMT
* Growing public frustration at slow pace of change
* High court could derail impeachment bid
* President wants constructive criticism
By Abdi Sheikh
MOGADISHU, May 8 (Reuters) - More than 100 Somali lawmakers have signed a
letter demanding the president resign for failing to improve security and
meet other promises, threatening to impeach him if he does not quit.
The petition, the first of its kind against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,
has enough signatures to force an impeachment debate in parliament.
But such a move could be blocked by the high court, which would have to
approve it, and more backers would be needed to vote Mohamud out.
The initiative highlights the growing frustration in Somalia at the
government's failure to deliver more tangible change in a nation struggling
to rebuild after two decades of war.
The president has also faced criticism from Western donors over financial
management. Two central bank governors left in quick succession last year.
"The reasons why we want him to resign are obviously known by every Somali
and clearly stated in detail in the statement letter we had signed and
handed to him," Abdiladif Muse Nur, a member of parliament, told Reuters.
He said the president had failed to deliver better security, after an
upsurge in attacks by Islamist insurgents in Mogadishu that have included
the killing of two members of parliament and a raid into the presidential
compound.
The lawmaker also said Mohamud's government had failed to lift the
beleaguered economy, revive public services and reconcile the nation, which
includes a region that has declared independence and large areas still under
Islamist rebel control.
The president, who was picked by parliament, has defended his record and
said lawmakers had the right to express their views although he called for a
"constructive" discussion.
"Let's encourage where there is progress and deliberate on the performance
of the sections where there is a setback," he said on Wednesday after the
lawmakers announced their plan to demand he resign.
Although still full of bombed-out buildings, Mogadishu has enjoyed a
mini-boom, with new hotels, restaurants and other buildings going up. It is
also collecting more revenues from the port and airport. It plans to tax
some thriving companies.
The members of parliament said the letter had 116 signatures, more than a
third of the 275-seat parliament needed to call for an impeachment debate.
But it is short of the two-thirds needed to force him out.
One lawmaker said the high court had to assess and approve the validity of
any charges of an impeachment request - even if it had the required
signatures - and could block it proceeding. (Writing by Edmund Blair;
Editing by Robin Pomeroy)