Somalia: Opposition Cancels Controversial Rally After PM Roble Intervenes

Somalia's opposition politicians on Thursday night cancelled a planned rally in Mogadishu after Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble conceded some of their demands.
The
rally, which had been planned despite a ban on public gatherings to control
cases of Covid-19, was instead postponed after Mr Roble formally expressed
"regret" following violence that followed a similar march last week
on Friday.
The
leaders, under the caucus of the Council of Presidential Candidates, agreed to
hold their march in 10 days, after the Federal Government said it will
investigate the incident in which a hotel the leaders were lodging in was
attacked on the eve of their march last week.
The
deal arose from an emergency meeting at Mogadishu's Decale Airport Hotel, a
facility inside the Aden Abdulle International Airport, as part of Premier
Roble's efforts to cool down the tempers that have flared over delayed
elections in the country.
Ahead
of the meeting, the council had warned it would proceed with the peaceful march
to express disapproval of President Mohamed Farmaajo's government, his alleged
overstay in power, and delaying elections for both the legislature and the
presidency.
Roble,
a former technocrat at the Food and Agriculture Organisation and who was
appointed in September, declined to have senior security chiefs fired for the
violence; but did offer an official government regret for it. He also said the
matter would be investigated and culprits punished through an independent team.
In addition, the Federal Government guaranteed that citizens' rights will be
protected including the right to assemble and protest.
"I am pleased to address today the
issues on February 19 incidents, security and elections. Thanks to the Union of
Candidates for their flexibility and to President Mohamed Farmaajo, the
Presidents of Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Benadir Governor for their contribution
to the solution," Roble tweeted on Thursday night, referring to the
leaders of the two federal states who helped broker a meeting.
"I call upon all to support it."
The
deal averted a potential clash between security forces and the opposition groups,
in a week that had seen government officials accuse the council of
"insurrection." Appearing before the UN Security Council for a
virtual meeting on Monday, Somalia's Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdirazak said
his government would allow protests, but there had been no guarantee they would
be peaceful.
"Rest
assured, the prospective presidential candidates have and will continue to be
provided the freedom and political space to express their views and government
bodies, as well as security forces, will fulfil their statutory duty to protect
the public against the dark forces of extremism and the silent enemy of the
pandemic while they express their views openly," he said during a session
of the UNSC on Monday night.
"However, the security and wellbeing
of the Somali people will remain paramount and no armed insurrection under the
guise of a political demonstration will be accepted."
His
colleagues in the Ministry of Security later banned public gatherings and
warned they would arrest participants at the rally.
The
resolution on Thursday was welcomed by the UN as a "positive step"
but Somalia must still reach an agreement on the election.
The
leaders have bickered on the composition of electoral management teams as well
as venues especially in Jubbaland's Gedo region. Although a technical committee
composed of Federal Government and federal states had worked on a proposal,
Jubbaland and Puntland refused to attend the endorsement meeting, accusing
Farmaajo of dictatorship.
The Council of Presidential Candidates has been demanding to be enjoined in the meetings.