Somalia's president, prime minister move to resolve dispute

MOGADISHU, Somalia

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and his Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble reached agreements Thursday on most matters that had driven a wedge between them.

“The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, and the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble, held talks and resolved their differences,” Somali government spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu announced in a press statement, using the name the president is popularly known by.

It was agreed that Security Minister Abdullahi Mohamed Nur, who was appointed by the prime minister, will stay in office, as will Yasin Farey, who was appointed by the president as the acting National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) chief, until a new one is appointed.

The leaders also agreed that the case of the mysterious killing of female Somali intelligence operative Ikran Tahlil Farah in June will be left to the Somali judicial services, who will seek justice for her in the courts.

A more detailed communique will be issued by the two leaders on all matters that they discussed during their talks.

Tensions between Mohamed and Roble had risen since they appointed separate individuals to head the country's intelligence agency earlier this month.

Roble had dismissed National Intelligence and Security Agency Director Fahad Yasin, alleging that he had failed to deliver a report on the murder of Farah, who disappeared in June.

He appointed Bashir Mohamed Jama as the agency's interim chief, while President Mohamed named Yasin Abdullahi Mohamed as its head.

On Sept. 16, President Mohamed suspended Roble's power to appoint and remove officials, accusing him of making "rash and hasty decisions."

The presidency said the suspension of powers would remain in place until elections are concluded later this year.

The prime minister dismissed the president's move as "unlawful," saying he would "only abide by decisions that are in line with the Constitution."