Sunday March 21, 2021
Osman Dubbe - FILE PHOTO
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia's Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe rejected questions surrounding President Farmajo and his administration's legitimacy since his constitutional mandate expired nearly six weeks ago. During a press conference on Saturday, Dubbe pushed back against calls for Farmajo to step down, adding that the government has been actively working on a myriad of issues facing the country.
"If the government is not working, who will defend the sea (at the IC)? If the government is not working, who will keep us safe? If the government is not working, who will address the drought? Who will pay the soldiers and the civil servants?" So the government is working, and on the other hand, it is ready to hold elections," said Minister Dubbe.
Dubbe defended the federal government's recent decision to airlift troops to the Gedo region, citing an Al-Shabaab security threat in the area as the government delivered aid.
"The government has always been responsible for security. The aid has been delivered, and you know that the Minister of Aid Khadijo Mohamed Diriye has recently returned, and about 50 aid vehicles have reached the region," he added.
When quizzed on his thoughts about the National Salvation Forum, the newly formed opposition alliance, Dubbe said that it was "unfortunate" that the group included two former presidents.
"The Somali people were shocked to hear of this development. They remember the previous alliances that had plunged this country into a deep abyss. We are respectful of our elder statesmen, but we do not want to see them wandering around in anti-election coalitions."
Earlier this week, Somalia's leading opposition group, the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC), which comprises 15 presidential candidates, announced a new alliance with the leaders of two Federal Member State leaders - Jubaland and Puntland - who have emerged as stalwart allies against Farmajo's aggressive centralization of authority. The group, known as the National Salvation Forum, says that its stated goal is to ensure inclusive national elections are held as quickly as possible.