Himilo Qaran Accuses the Somali Government of Tax Mismanagement

**President Sharif: “The Aim of Himilo Qaran is not to seek office but to maintain the functioning of federal institutions and the gradual process through which they were established.”**

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Himilo Qaran, a political party led by former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, today held a conference in Mogadishu. The goal of the convention was to express objections to the policies of the Federal Government of Somalia, ranging from the “one person, one vote” electoral system to the eviction of squatters from government properties in Mogadishu.

“We will reverse the decision to evict squatters from government properties that had been sold to businesspeople,” said one participant.

“When we campaigned for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, we did not expect that he would evict families from their homes,” said another participant.

“President Hassan Sheikh opposed the term extension of the previous government. He should not expect us to support an extension for his tenure,” said Dahir Amin Jessow, an MP. Another participant claimed that Himilo Qaran “is the only party capable of governing Somalia” despite the party opposing multiparty elections proposed by the Federal Government of Somalia. Abdirahsid Hiddig, a Federal MP from Jubaland, who is campaigning for Himilo Qaran, contended that Parliament was supposed to convene on 6 February. “I urge the Speaker of Parliament, Sheikh Adan, to convene it” he said.

“The Aim of Himilo Qaran is not to seek office but to maintain the functioning of federal institutions and the gradual process through which they were established. People go to bed hungry in Mogadishu. Do we know what is happening in Bakara Market or Suuq Bacaad Market? The government uses force to collect taxes. I was shocked to learn that the tax on khat has doubled. Instead of government agencies collecting taxes, an illegally established private company owned by well-known individuals is doing so,” said Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

The Finance Ministry of the Federal Government of Somalia has not responded to the accusations by the former Somali president that unscrupulous private agencies have been tasked with tax collection in Mogadishu.

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