Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – Somali Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Ghedi said on Sunday he would expel two members of his cabinet for their role in the recent fighting in the capital.
He said he would begin proceedings to remove Moussa Sudi Yalahu, the Minister of Trade and Mohammed Qanyare Afrah, the Minister of Intelligence for their role in the escalation of violence in Mogadishu last week.
The latest clash in the Somali capital left over a hundred people dead, mostly civilians and, and more than 300 injured. Thousands fled the city in search of shelter.
In a telephone conversation with Asharq al Awsat, from his temporary residence in Baidoa, in southern Somalia , Ghedi indicated the cabinet had met on Sunday to discuss the issue and said parliament would later meet for the same purpose. President Abdallah Youssef agreed on the need to take punitive action against the two men, Ghedi added.
“My message to [Yalahu and Afrah] is either return to Baidoa, where the government is based and join its efforts to promote peace and stability, or face certain expulsion.”
The Prime Minister condemned the two ministers for jeopardizing the transitional government and the national reconciliation process.
“The support chaos and instability in the capital and people see them as members of my government. But I can’t accept this any longer, especially as [their actions] lead to the death of civilians and innocent individuals.”
Senior sources told Asharq al Awsat several members of the Somali parliament would discuss the request to expel both ministers, because they endanger government efforts to bring an end to the deteriorating security and political conditions in the country. At least 139 lawmakers out of a total of 275 would have to support the motion for it to come into effect.
Meanwhile, Asharq al Awsat has learned that Ghedi has sent a message to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, requesting him to set up an international tribunal to try Somali warlords and militia leaders who broke two ceasefire agreements, signed by 21 leaders in December 2002 in Kenya . Amongst them were Yalahu and Afrah and members of the US-backed alliance to combat terrorism.