Somali leaders tussle over expulsion of African Union envoy

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has dismissed Prime Minister Hussein Roble’s decision to expel an African Union envoy over misconduct.

Roble had notified the African Union Commission chairperson that the Somali Government had declared Mozambican diplomat Francisco Madeira persona non grata “for engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status” as representative of the African Union Commission and is ordered to leave Somalia within 48 hours.

Through a statement, Farmaajo said he did not okay the expulsion and the prime minister does not have the power to make the decision alone.

“The said order (to expel Madeira) had been issued by an office with no powers to act alone on such a weighty issue,” the statement by Villa Somalia said.

“It is a decision that needs to be carefully taken, requiring consensus….There is no authentication by the President of the Republic in regards to acts against Ambassador Madeira,” he added.

Farmaajo further stated that Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not submitted reports indicating that Madeira opposed the independence of the country.

The president instructed the Foreign Affairs ministry to discharge its functions by letting the AU Commission know that the envoy’s expulsion was not adopted by all the organs of the State of Somalia.

Farmaajo added that the African Union is a strong partner of Somalia, especially in the fight against terrorists.

“Madeira and other ambassadors in Somalia present their credentials to the President of the Republic who is the guardian of the independence of the country,” the statement said.

He added that any decision associated with Somalia’s relations with the rest of the world and the presence of foreign diplomats has direct impact on the country’s co-operation with the international community.

Madeira is the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for Somalia (SRCC).

No details of the alleged acts of misconduct were given by the Prime Minister. But the move came five months after Madeira’s deputy, Ugandan diplomat Simon Mulongo, was shown the door after being accused of similar acts last year.

“The Somali government declares the special representative of the African Union … Ambassador Francisco Madeira, persona non grata for engaging in acts incompatible with his status,” the prime minister’s office said.