Somali lawmakers in fresh threat to reject cabinet list

MOGADISHU,  (Xinhua) — More than 150 Somali lawmakers have issued fresh threats to reject a cabinet list for the second time if the nominees included former ministers.

The legislators warned Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke, saying they will not approve any new government which has the president’s key allies in the previous government.

“We are hereby calling the prime minister not to include his government members of former government who are believed to be behind the latest political stand-offs between the president and his prime ministers,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

“We also urge leaders not to interfere with the prime minister’ s decision to build new government,” they said.

While speaking about the political situation in Somalia on Monday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called on the parliament to show patience and keep solidarity and unity of Somalia people.

“The time is very narrow and Somali people are waiting us to deliver services. I urge Somali legislators to concede for Somali people and avoid anything that may cause political crisis,” said the president.

He also emphasized that the prime minister would form competent government, adding that it would be satisfactory to all different parties of Somali people.

Somali Parliament on Jan. 17 approved a two-week extension period requested by Sharmarke to form an inclusive government after the lawmakers rejected the list he had submitted for approval.

Sharmarke dissolved his proposed list of cabinet ministers barely hours after it was set to face a confidence vote by the Parliament.