Friday November 29, 2024
FILE - Shamsa Abdulkadir Dahir (left), Senior Advisor on Women's Affairs and Human Rights, poses alongside Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in this file photo. Dahir recently resigned, citing allegations of workplace injustice and systemic bias against Jubaland. CREDIT / Office of the Prime Minister
Mogadishu (HOL) — The resignation of a senior advisor in Somalia's Prime Minister's Office has exposed deepening fissures in the country's fragile federal system, with allegations of injustice, abuse of power, and systemic discrimination raising new questions about Mogadishu's governance.
Shamsa Abdulkadir Dahir, a senior advisor on women's affairs and human rights, announced her resignation this week, citing what she described as an intolerable working environment. In a resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and shared publicly, Dahir detailed her reasons: "I have been subjected to widespread injustice, misuse of power, and continuous harassment. These actions stem solely from my affiliation with the Jubaland region."
Dahir accused the federal government of "denying her constitutional employment rights" and targeting her for political reasons. She denounced Mogadishu's alleged interference in Jubaland's affairs, echoing grievances that have long defined the strained relationship between the federal government and Somalia's semi-autonomous states.
Despite the acrimony surrounding her resignation, Dahir struck a conciliatory tone in her letter, thanking her colleagues for their support. "I am deeply grateful to all those who worked with me in good faith during my time in office," she wrote.
Dahir's resignation comes as tensions between Mogadishu and Jubaland reach a boiling point. Earlier this month, Somalia's federal government requested an Interpol Red Notice for Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, accusing him of treason and collusion with foreign entities. The legal maneuver, authorized by the Banadir Regional Court, marks a dramatic escalation in Mogadishu's long-running conflict with the Jubaland administration.
The federal government deployed troops to the strategic port city of Ras Kambooni. The military buildup in Ras Kambooni illustrates the growing hostility between federal forces and Jubaland's administration.
The relationship between Jubaland and the federal government has been fraught for years, with disputes over electoral processes, resource control, and governance fueling mistrust. Jubaland has resisted Mogadishu's push for a "one person, one vote" electoral system, viewing it as a federal overreach to weaken regional autonomy. Madobe's contentious re-election earlier this week—his third term—has intensified these disagreements, with federal officials accusing Jubaland of obstructing Somalia's constitutional reforms.