Somali government has opposed gathering of local political forces in the southern port city of Kismayu aimed at forming an administration for the region which was retaken from the rebel group Al-Shabaab last year.
In a statement late Friday the Somali Prime Minister Office expressed regret at the Kismayu meeting which it described as “unconstitutional” and “unilateral”.
“It’s important that what’s happening in Kismayo only takes place within – and not outside – the constitutional framework,” Mr Abdi Farah Shirdon said.
“According to our constitutional mandate, the government won’t accept anything less than correct procedure,” he added.
“We have been extremely inclusive throughout all consultative engagements and played a facilitative role in Baidoa (in Southwestern Somalia) and in Beled Weyne (in Central Somalia), and we expect to do the same in Kismayo as we move towards a federal state.”
“This unilateral act, carried out without reference to the federal government, violates the constitution and is an obstacle to peaceful political development. It neither serves the best interest of the local communities in the area nor that of the new Somali state,”
He emphasised that only the government could call for a conference.
Last year allied Kenya contingent of the African Union peacekeeping Mission (Amison) and Somali government forces as well as local clan militias ousted the militant Islamist Al-Shabaab fighters from the border regions Middle and Lower Juba provinces.
Local leaders in Kisamyo said that it was their constitutional right to form an administration to be called Jubaland for the three provinces along the Kenya-Somalia border but the Somali government object to it, saying: “The government’s constitutional mandate is to establish a federal state as the end goal.”
NMG
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