Six more Somali government ministers resigned on Tuesday citing the 18-month-old administration’s “unpopularity” as hard-line Islamists widened their control in the centre of the shattered Horn of Africa nation, officials said.
The resignations of Culture Minister Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, Water and Natural Resources Minister Muhamoud Salat Nur and four assistant ministers brought to 24 the number of ministers who have quit the 102-member Cabinet.
The move came two days after Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi survived a motion of no confidence.
“Gedi’s government is unpopular among most members of Parliament, and its work plans will not be accepted by the national assembly,” Nur said.
Abdullahi said the resignations, which plunged the government into fresh turmoil, were “based on the interests of the nation”.
Analysts said the resignations aimed to exert pressure on the premier to reshuffle his Cabinet or step down.
On Friday, gunmen shot dead the Constitutional Affairs Minister, a day after 18 others stepped down in protest over the deployment of Ethiopian troops to protect the fragile government from a feared attack by militiamen loyal to the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS).
Nearly 1 000 people demonstrated in the south-central town of Baidoa, the seat of government, to condemn the killing, which Gedi blamed on terrorism.
Officials said 10 people were arrested as the government appealed for civilians to start returning arms. — AFP