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Djibouti is expelling members of the Somali national assembly, recently created by the Arta conference, following disagreements between the Djibouti president, Ismael Omar Gelleh and [interim Somali president] Abdiqasim [Salad Hasan] on the choice of prime minister.
According to reports we received last night, serious differences have emerged between Ismael Omar Gelleh and Mr Hasan on the candidate for prime minister, with each insisting that his choice should prevail. This falling out necessitated an order from the Djibouti government yesterday instructing the Somali government created in Arta to leave the country.
A spokesman for Abdiqasim yesterday revealed that the national assembly would leave for Mogadishu from where they would name the new prime minister and set up a new government.
According to the spokesman, the MPs have up to Friday this week to eave for Mogadishu.
According to the reports, Ismael Omar Gelleh had chosen Ali Khalif Galaydh for the post while Abdiqasim preferred a man from the Dirr clan. It was widely reported that he was favouring one Uthman Jama Ali. The candidate for the post of prime minister has generated tension in Arta and Djibouti as a whole.
Separate meetings were held yesterday and last night between the supporters of Ali and Galaydh as members of both groups pondered the next move if they failed to secure the premiership.
Khalif Galaydh is a native of Somaliland's Sool [northeastern Somalia] Region and is supported by his Darod clan apart from the Majerteen who had their candidate in Mr Hasan Abshir. It is reported that they are now supporting the Dirr candidate.
Meanwhile, Sultan Muhammad Sultan Abd-al-Qadir who represented the northern Dirr clan in the Arta conference is reported to have threatened to destroy people's confidence in the Arta conference if Ismail Buba, a man he is canvassing for, is not appointed the prime minister.
According to a `Jamhuuriya' reporter, the Sultan looked visibly disappointed. Equally, apart from the issue of a prime minister, disagreements have emerged about Abdiqasim's plan to take the seat of his government to Mogadishu.
Many of the MPs who elected him claimed that Arta's interim charter stipulated that the new government would be based in Baydhabo. During his recent visit to Mogadishu, following his election, Mr [Abdiqasim Salad] Hasan said that Mogadishu would be his government's new HQ despite the temporary status accorded to Baydhabo. He said Baydhabo was chosen because of Mogadishu's perceived insecurity and that Mogadishu was not insecure as believed.
Abdiqasim is faced with a difficult dilemma. If Mogadishu is not chosen he is bound to lose his clan's support.
Source Jamhuuriya, Hargeysa
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