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Mogadishu (Comment) — Since December 2023 Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, the Defence Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia signed four defence Memoranda of Understanding, first with Ethiopia. The Federal Government of Somalia did not disclose the articles of the pact with Ethiopia but Addis Standard reported that an article on maritime security cooperation is included in the MoU. Ethiopia and Somaliland Administration used the defence MoU as a basis for the illegal maritime Memorandum of Understanding signed in Addis Ababa by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and President Muse Bihi.
The Defence Minister signed two more defence MoUs with Turkey and Uganda. It is noteworthy that the defence MoU with Ethiopia was intended to renew the bilateral defence agreement that allowed for the deployment of Ethiopian troops in Somalia in 2014. President Hassan abrogated the agreement that resulted in the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops in Somalia fifteen years ago after the former Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia signed peace agreement in Djibouti sixteen years ago. President Hassan’s government (2012-2017) did not publish a legal opinion on the deployment of Ethiopian troops in violation of a domestic peace agreement. In February 2024 the Defence Minister signed an MoU with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee.
The capture of the unicameral legislature (2012-2017) the bicameral legislature (from 2017 onwards) by successive federal governments makes incumbent governments less accountable for policies and infractions that damage the national interest of Somalia. The leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia enjoys the legitimacy to represent Somalia but benefits from political unaccountability.
Through this atmosphere of unaccountability the incumbent federal government aims to force dubious constitutional amendments through the Upper House and Lower House.
© Puntland Post, 2024
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