Somali Deputy Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Sadam Mohamud Abdi, resigned Tuesday night, marking the third high-profile resignation from federal offices within days. Abdi, who also represents Puntland in the federal parliament, joins Abdirashid Jire Qalinle and Ahmed Isman Ibrahim Daqare, federal ministers from Jubbaland, who both stepped down earlier this week.
Abdi cited his frustration over what he described as federal interference in the development projects meant for Puntland and alleged federal maneuvers aimed at creating conflict in Jubbaland. The resignations underscore an intensifying political rift between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the leadership of the Puntland and Jubbaland regional states.
Tensions escalated recently after Jubbaland’s leader, Ahmed Madobe, walked out of a National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu, demanding greater inclusion of Puntland and SSC Khatumo in the council’s discussions. Puntland has continued its boycott of NCC meetings due to unresolved disputes with the federal government over state sovereignty and resource allocation.
In response to the ministerial vacancies, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre appointed Ahmed Nor Sheikh Mohamed Loxox as the new state minister for Planning and Abdirashid Mohamed Du’ale as the Deputy Minister of Education.
