MOGADISHU —
Somalia has appointed the
former deputy leader and spokesman for the Al-Shabaab Islamist group as
religion minister, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Tuesday.
اضافة اعلان
The announcement marks a sharp reversal of fortune for Muktar Robow, who
has spent the last four years under house arrest after a falling-out with
ex-president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmajo.
Robow, 53, publicly defected from the Al-Qaeda-linked militants in August
2017, with the US government at one point offering a $5-million bounty for his
capture.
“After consultations that took a period of more than 30 days ... I’m very
happy to present Somali men and women who I have selected based on their
academic background, experience, and fairness,” Barre said.
“I’m expecting they will respond to the needs of the country.”
Robow was arrested in late 2018, days before he was scheduled to run in
regional elections.
Farmajo’s government accused him of “organizing a militia” in Baidoa, the
capital of the southwestern Bay region, and seeking to “undermine stability”.
His arrest triggered sporadic protests with demonstrators burning images
of Farmajo, whom they accused of meddling in regional affairs.
His elevation comes weeks after recently elected President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud hinted at his government’s willingness to negotiate with Al-Shabaab,
saying it would only happen when the time is right.
Al-Shabaab has waged a bloody insurrection against Somalia’s fragile
central government for 15 years and remains a potent force despite an African
Union operation against the group.
Its fighters were ousted from Somalia’s capital Mogadishu in 2011, but
continue to wage attacks on military, government and civilian targets.
Barre was initially expected to name a cabinet within 30 days of his
appointment on June 25 but said the delays were due to the country’s protracted
election process that culminated in May with the selection of Mohamud as
president.
Tuesday’s appointments include a deputy prime minister, 25 ministers, 24
state ministers and deputy ministers in a 75-member team, with parliament due
to vote on the nominees.
The new government faces a host of challenges, including a looming famine
and the grinding Islamist insurgency.
A crippling drought across the Horn of Africa has left about 7.1 million
Somalis — nearly half the population — battling hunger, with more than 200,000
on the brink of starvation, according to UN figures.
In July, Mohamud said ending the violent insurgency required more than a
military approach.
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