Mogadishu residents are celebrating the sacking of theSomali capital's controversial but powerful mayor MohamedDheere. Dheere was reportedly fired after he allegedly embezzled funds amidheightened insecurity in the capital. Some political observers believe Dheere'ssacking exposes a possible rift at the top of the Somalia's embattled interimadministration. Dheere, who is a former warlord, has been the city's mayorsince early last year and is perceived to be a close ally of PresidentAbdullahi Yusuf.
President Yusuf is expected soon to append his signature toDheere's official letter of dismissal. Haroun Maruf is a Somali journalist monitoring the situation in thecountry. He tells reporter Peter Clottey that Dheere was sacked after heclashed with the prime minister and some members of the interim government overcontrol of the city's resources.
"Youknow, Mohammed Dheere is a controversial figure. He was a former warlord whowas appointed as the mayor of Mogadishu in April last year. And a large numberof people were displaced from the city at that time because of heavy fightingbetween Mohamed Dheere's militia and the government forces and the Ethiopiantroops against insurgents. So, the large number of people who were displacedwere today very pleased with the sacking of Mohamed Dheere and large numbers ofpeople have taken to the streets in Mogadishu. But of course I think thereaction to the sacking of Mohamed Dheere was mixed, and some people were verydisappointed, especially from the northern part of the city. Others were elatedwith the sacking," Maruf noted.
He said Dheere was sackedafter clashing with the prime minister and other influential governmentofficials.
"The mayor of Mogadishu is avery powerful character, and he made his position as a powerful politician.Mogadishu is the financial capital as well as the political capital, andMohamed Dheere, the mayor of Mogadishu, wanted to control all these financialrevenues, the taxes as well as the security of the city. Mogadishu is also theseat for the president and the prime minister, so they wanted to have their sayon what is happening politically, security-wise, and financially, and that mayhave them on collision course with Mohamed Dheere, the mayor, which brought hissacking," he said.
Maruf said Dheere's sackingwould not generate tension in the capital as many anticipate.
"I don't think he (Dheere)would urge his militia to take up arms against the government. So, far he saidhe will accept his sacking provided it was approved by the president, who isyet to sign the sacking memo. By the way, Mohamed Dheere is very close to theEthiopian commander who is in Somalia, which means he (Dheere) is very unlikelyto stage any fighting with the government over his sacking," Maruf pointed out.
He said President Yusuf isexpected to sign the memo that would make Dheere's sacking official.
"It is very likely that the presidentwould support the sacking, although the president is very close to the mayor.So it is also fair to say he will not disagree with the prime minister'sdecision to sack him (Dheere)," he said.
Maruf said the primeminister has set up a committee to find a new mayor for the capital.
"The prime minister hasappointed a 13-member committee who will vet a new mayor for Mogadishu as wellas a complete administrational structure for Mogadishu. Mogadishu is the bulkcenter of the conflict in Somalia. It is where every warlord, everytroublemaker, every politician makes his political trade. So there are lots ofsensitivities around this position, and that is why the prime minister hasappointed a 13-member committee to draw a list to choose from a new mayor. Butin the meantime, Mohamed Dheere's deputy has been appointed as a caretakermayor," Maruf noted.