A National Call on President Hassan Sheik to Step Down
Facing pressure from home and abroad and noting the end game in sight and a strong worded statement by the United States of America.

Mogadishu – Somali’s embattled Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh has been asked to step down by the country’s president, a move not welcomed by the most of Somalis and international communities.

President Hassan Sheikh, a Damul-Jadiid ruling movement leader, took the decision after weeks of political bickering in Mogadishu as PM Dr. Abdiweli insisted on hanging for his office with massive support by the Somali regions, international communities, and regional organizations.

President Hassan asked Speaker of the parliament Mr. Jawari, another ally of Damul-Jadiid movement

to organize a non-confidence vote for PM Abdiweli’s government.

The president’s move received solid political resistance from the Puntland, Jupaland, Khatumo State and internationally.

“Hassan Sheikh is not a statesman,” said Khadija, an MP of the Change Movement (CG) in the Somalis parliament. “He is not a mature or progressive man and he only works by reaction.”

Dr. Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed refused to accept the president’s decision, calling it a “violation of the constitution” and vowed to keep his post.

“Hassan’s speech was the same as those dictators who cling on to power,” said Abdi Barre, an MP of the No vote for cash (NVC) in the Somali Parliament.

The United States, UK, United Nations, IGAD, and most Somali leaders…including from President’s own political allies – NOT welcomed the move of the President.

The Puntlanders, who have long accused Hassan of violating the constitution and leading the country into the current turmoil, were particularly supportive of the PM decision.

“Hassan Sheikh pursued wrong policies in governance and with the ruling movement Damul-Jadiid themselves that is why he wasn’t given a chance at premiership by Dr. Abdiweli,” explained Khadija.

Dr. Abdiweli, prime minister for the past 12 months only, has vowed to fight for his post, and it’s believed to have mobilized legislatures and cabinet ministers loyal to him.

Omar Filish, an MP from Mogadishu district said that “Hassan Sheikh should not turn his movement’s internal agenda into a national crisis”.

“If Hassan brings his movement political nepotism and favoritism onto a national stage then he will be betraying all political groups, including his own friends,” Omar Filish concluded.

“I hope his (Hassan’s) advisors give him wise advice to step down in order to have a smooth transfer of power,” Ridwan the deputy prime minister and MP mentioned later this week.

“With this kind of behavior Hassan Sheikh is trying to deepen Somali’s crisis,” he said.
A majority of Somali people want President Hassan Sheikh to step down before the end of his term, a Somalionline pollster to be published tomorrow shows.
As many as 72 percent of the poll’s respondents want Hassan Sheikh to resign and 64 percent said they want a dissolution of the National Assembly and early new legislative elections.