Political career Sharif Sheikh Ahmed

1 political career

1.1 2009 presidential election
1.2 stand-off
1.3 new prime minister
1.4 kampala accord
1.5 operation linda nchi
1.6 post-transition
1.7 2012-2016 presidential elections
1.8 2016-2020 presidential elections

political career
2009 presidential election

as first round of voting began, several candidates withdrew, increasing speculation vote largely choice between nur hassan hussein , sharif ahmed. in first round, sharif ahmed received 215 votes, maslah mohamed siad got 60, , hussein obtained 59. hussein withdrew candidacy, sealing election of sharif ahmed president. in final round of presidential election, sharif prevailed 293 votes.

after winning vote in hours of 31 january 2009, ahmed sworn in later in day @ kempinski hotel in djibouti.

stand-off

in april , may 2010, rift developed between prime minister of somalia, omar abdirashid ali sharmarke, , speaker of parliament, adan mohamed nuur madobe, culminated in speaker s resignation after parliament later voted remove him office. despite madobe agreeing relieve himself of duties speaker, president sharif announced shortly afterwards dismissal of prime minister sharmarke , intention of forming new government. move welcomed un special representative somalia, ahmedou ould-abdallah, close associate , supporter of sharif. ould-abdallah himself has come under fire reportedly disruptive role in continuing conflict in southern somalia, including meddling in local politics , attempting advance foreign agendas.

in response, prime minister sharmarke told press sharif did not have authority dismiss him, , stated remain in office until parliament passes vote of no confidence. sharmarke added met president , informed him wouldn t submit resignation because decision not supported transitional charter , , government formed in accordance constitution , national charter... articles 44 , 51 of constitution government can dissolved through vote of no confidence parliament. no parliament has casted vote against government.

on 18 may, top official african union urged federal leaders settle differences , unite resolve ongoing conflict. supporters of prime minister sharmarke reported have gathered in north-central mudug region of somalia protest in defense.

on 20 may, president sharif reversed decision sack prime minister sharmarke. change of heart came after consulting lawyers, advised sharif dismissal indeed unconstitutional. analysts stated move had severely undermined sharif s credibility, of un representative, ould-abdallah, had backed him.

on 26 may, following disagreement prime minister sharmarke, incumbent president sharif again announced unilateral plan appoint new premier. associates of sharif s reportedly attempted persuade sharmarke resign, premier again refused step down , vowed instead remain in office until tenure constitutionally expires. abdirahman mohamud farole, incumbent president of somalia s autonomous puntland region in northeast, attempted settle dispute, warning if not resolved amicably, rift result in ultimate collapse of transitional federal government.

in september 2010, disagreements again arose between president sharif , prime minister sharmarke, time on nation s draft constitution, initiative supported united nations, european union , united states. sharmarke reportedly wanted document put before parliament , civil society members, while president wanted put referendum. on 14 september, reported premier had convened mps , ministers @ presidential residence discuss issue, sharmarke indicated welcome resolution dispute not step down. in parliamentary meeting following day, sharif requested changes interim government; motion calling vote of no confidence in premier put forward. however, on 18 september, new speaker of parliament sharif hassan sheikh adan reportedly called off parliamentary session when vote of confidence expected take place.

in response rift, representatives united nations, african union , igad, had tried serve mediators, released joint statement warning dispute unhelpful , self-defeating. puntland president abdirahman mohamud farole in interview likewise urged federal government s leaders set aside differences sake of country. farole added government [tfg] has short time in office remaining , should not changed. position of countries interested in somali affairs .

critics have accused president sharif of attempting force prime minister sharmarke out of office remain in power beyond term s expiry in august 2011. doing terminate draft constitution, in turn might extend president s tenure.

on 21 september 2010, in press conference attended members of parliament , cabinet, omar abdirashid ali sharmarke announced resignation prime minister of somalia. sharmarke indicated infighting between himself , president sharif had become security vulnerability , had opted instead save nation voluntarily stepping down. sharmarke s resignation, new cabinet expected named next premier.

new prime minister

on 14 october 2010, president sharif appointed former first secretary of somali embassy in washington, mohamed abdullahi farmajo, new prime minister of somalia. row between president , sharif hassan sheikh aden, speaker of parliament, developed on whether scheduled vote of confidence on mohamed s nomination should decided show of hands or secret ballot. sharif ahmed favored hand-raising while sharif aden preferred secret ballot, postponing deciding voting session. supreme court of somalia subsequently ruled vote should conducted show of hands, consistent how previous confirmation votes in parliament had been decided since 1960. delegation un, au , igad, including special envoy somalia, flew in attempt resolve impasse. on 31 october 2010, vote of confidence held, lawmakers overwhelmingly approving mohamed s appointment prime minister. out of 392 members of parliament, 297 endorsed selection via hand-raising; 92 mps voted against , 3 abstained. united nations secretary general ban ki-moon issued statement commending somali leadership having reached consensus on procedural arrangements facilitated transparent , consultative confirmation of new premier.

kampala accord

after months of political infighting between president sharif ahmed , speaker of parliament sharif hassan on whether hold presidential elections in august 2011, 2 politicians struck deal in kampala on 9 june 2011 postpone vote new president , parliamentary speaker 1 year in exchange resignation of premier within period of thirty days. overseen ugandan president yoweri museveni , u.n. special envoy somalia augustine mahiga, signed kampala accord see well-regarded technocratic cabinet prime minister mohamed had assembled in november 2010 re-composed make way new government. political analysts have suggested agreement may have been bid on president sharif ahmed s part fend off attempts speaker of parliament sharif hassan force him power pre-emptively sacrificing premier. sharif hassan reported harbor presidential ambitions of own.

announcement of prime minister mohamed s proposed resignation met protests in various cities. thousands of civilians, many government soldiers, , legislators marched through streets of mogadishu, calling dismissal of president, parliament speaker , parliament. crowd demanded premier reinstated , described mohamed honest leader in recent years . posters of un special envoy symbolically burned, protestors appealing un secretary general dismiss mahiga due many felt latter s infringement on somalia s sovereignty through signing of kampala agreement. attacks on hotels in members of parliament staying , @ least 5 deaths reported. additional demonstrations against premier s resignation held in galkacyo, key trading city in north-central mudug region, in belet hawo in far south. internationally, protests reportedly took place in cairo, nairobi, johannesburg, sydney, london, rome, stockholm, minneapolis , toronto.

in response, prime minister mohamed released statement through state-run radio mogadishu commending armed forces rapid response , urging troops exercise restraint. appealed public calm down, , indicated have seen expressions , heard calls[...] part of decision making — want must heard. additionally, in press conference, premier called immediate release of protestors had been detained, , stated administration launch independent investigation arrest. weighing in on demonstrations, mogadishu s mayor mohamed nur suggested [the demonstrators] have problem 2 people go , decide fate of government without considering feelings of population , , putting issue before parliament approval more democratic course of action.

on 11 june 2011, prime minister mohamed released statement indicating kampala decision ought presented in parliament debate , appraised according laws stipulated in national constitution. premier stated step down if lawmakers voted uphold accord. echoed cabinet, indicated in press release that, after having convened discuss kampala decision, ministers agreed accord must put before parliament evaluation. in addition, on 200 parliamentarians reportedly sought urge prime minister reconvene parliament deliberate decision, indicating in separate statement accord deprived mps of legislative role vis-a-vis government.

on 12 june 2011, president sharif ahmed released statement wherein condemned protests, describing them illegal . suggested government officials financing rallies in mogadishu, , warned al-shabaab group of islamists waging war against federal government try exploit gatherings launch terrorist attacks.

the same day, news reports surfaced indicating un secretary general ban ki-moon sack special envoy augustine mahiga on account of lack of tangible progress made , public confidence in mahiga s work in somalia. un sources stated that, due prevalent allegations of graft, secretary general fire half of senior staff in various un bureaus, including unpos, undp, unicef, , ocha.

in interview on 16 june 2011, undersecretary foreign affairs of italy, alfredo mantica, expressed support prime minister mohamed s position regard kampala agreement. mantica stated italian government believed accord ought reviewed in parliament. indicated prime minister has been in office 5 months. , [it too] judge work. has done far has been positive. has achieved important results. government seemed miracle[...] strength of instability in somalia constant. , prime minister represents stability.

on 19 june 2011, mohamed abdullahi mohamed resigned position prime minister of somalia. part of controversial kampala accord s conditions, agreement see mandates of president, parliament speaker , deputies extended until august 2012, after point new elections organized. in farewell speech, prime minister mohamed indicated stepping down in interest of somali people , current situation in somalia . thanked cabinet efforts in improving security situation , standards of governance in country.

abdiweli mohamed ali, mohamed s former minister of planning , international cooperation, appointed acting premier later same day. few days later, on 23 june 2011, ali named permanent prime minister.

prime minister mohamed s resignation met anger general public , many lawmakers. apprehension regarding possible resurgence of governmental corruption , lassitude, long-standing problems mohamed s administration had made significant strides toward eradicating, cited primary reasons consternation. according 1 legislator, many policy-makers trying repeal kampala decision, subject[s] country trusteeship . mp indicated lawmakers united in opposition deal , object [to] until throw away .

observers have suggested mohamed s resignation offer militants opportunity capitalize on situation , set territorial gains made administration in ongoing insurgency in southern somalia. have opined firing premier not resolve long-standing power struggle between president sharif ahmed , parliament speaker sharif hassan, may inadvertently exacerbate , prolong it. additionally, political analysts have suggested kampala agreement presents other potential long-term issues, such facilitating intervention , meddling neighboring countries, ugandan government s role final arbiter, in particular, cited problematic.

responding kampala decision, al-shabaab insurgent group s head of policy , regions, sheikh hussein ali fidow, told reporters on 22 june 2011 accord ended in failure since example [of how] country managed uganda , clear somali people , international community [the] kampala meeting [on] somalia aimed coerce prime minister mohamed abdullahi mohamed step down . in addition, spokesman suggested somalia s citizenry aware of going on , did not recognize president sharif ahmed , parliament speaker sharif hassan legitimate governmental authorities. reiterated group s call ugandan troops withdraw country.

on 24 june 2011, lawmakers reaffirmed opposition , intention of repealing kampala decision. chairman of federal information, public awareness, culture , heritage committee, awad ahmed ashareh, indicated 165 legislators had tendered motion in parliament opposing agreement, speaker rebuffed it. ashareh stated mps issue vote of no confidence vis-a-vis speaker hassan if continued refuse permit debate take place, suggesting hassan s refusal contravenes charter , rules of procedure .

following talks parliamentarians, president sharif ahmed asserted on 28 june 2011 that, on account of opposition amongst legislators kampala decision, accord brought before parliament deliberation. indicated agreement not implemented unless approved lawmakers.

operation linda nchi

in october 2011, coordinated operation between somalian military , kenyan military referred linda nchi began, kenyan troops crossing border southern somalia in pursuit of al-shabaab militants alleged have kidnapped several foreign tourists , workers inside kenya. president sharif along prime minister ali opposed deployment of kenyan troops country, felt breach of earlier joint defence pact reached kenyan government limited kenya s supporting role logistical activities. on 31 october, somalian delegation met in nairobi kenyan premier raila odinga , other government officials iron out differences , outline joint strategy vis-a-vis operation linda nchi. after lengthy talks, delegations issued joint communique pledging coordinated military, political , diplomatic support mission, requesting amisom peacekeepers police areas captured al-shabaab, , international criminal court (icc) begin formal investigations against group s commanders. 2 delegations formed joint high-level co-ordinating committee maintain regular contacts between respective governments.

in june 2012, kenyan forces formally integrated amisom. analysts expect additional au troop reinforcements somali authorities gradually expand territorial control.

post-transition

in february 2012, sharif ahmed , other somali government officials met in northeastern town of garowe discuss post-transition political arrangements. after extensive deliberations attended regional actors , international observers, conference ended in signed agreement between president, prime minister abdiweli mohamed ali, speaker of parliament sharif adan sharif hassan, puntland president abdirahman mohamed farole, galmudug president mohamed ahmed alim , ahlu sunnah wal jama representative khalif abdulkadir noor stipulating that: a) new 225 member bicameral parliament formed, lower house , upper house seating 54 senators; b) 30% of national constituent assembly (nca) earmarked women; c) president appointed via constitutional election; , d) prime minister selected president , he/she names his/her cabinet. on 23 june 2012, somali federal , regional leaders met again , approved draft constitution after several days of deliberation. national constituent assembly overwhelmingly passed new constitution on 1 august, 96% voting it, 2% against it, , 2% abstaining.

on 28 june 2012, president sharif ahmed signed cooperation deal in dubai ahmed mahamoud silanyo, president of separatist somaliland region in northwestern somalia. referred dubai charter, agreement calls greater coordination between somalia s various political units , part of broader international reconciliation efforts among somali parties. presidents of autonomous puntland , galmudug regions uae minister of state foreign affairs attended signing.

2012-2016 presidential elections

in august 2012, sharif ahmed presented himself candidate re-election in year s national presidential elections. on 20 august, ahmed s term president of somalia officially ended, concurrent conclusion of transitional federal government s mandate , start of federal government of somalia. succeeded in office general muse hassan sheikh sayid abdulle, had been serving in interim capacity.

sharif ahmed among top 4 presidential candidates made second round of voting. 2 of 4 finalists subsequently dropped out, leaving sharif ahmed contest presidency eventual winner, hassan sheikh mohamud.

2016-2020 presidential elections

2016-2020 somali presidential election campaign