Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia prime minister post

By AGGREY MUTAMBO

Somalia Prime Minister Hussein Roble will be leaving his post once the new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud names his substantive government, in line with Somalia’s delicate clan balancing to ensure no clan dominate the government.

Mr Roble and President Mohamud come from the larger Hawiye clan although the PM is from the smaller Habar-Gidir sub-clan while the President is from Abgaal. As such, they cannot continue holding their positions at the same time, based on a formula known as 4.5.

The formula, a loose arranged rotational democracy practice, means that Somali’s four main clans—Hawiye, Darod, Dir, and Digil & Mirifle (Rahenweyn)—share out power, alongside the smaller clans generally considered the .5.

Under the outgoing government of Mohamed Farmaajo, who comes from the Marehan sub-clan of the Darod clan, appointed Prime Ministers from the Hawiye. Mr Roble’s predecessor Hassan Khaire came from a different sub-clan of the Hawiye.

In spite of the clan balancing politics, Mr Roble may be exiting the stage after completing one of the toughest assignments yet: Holding an election in spite of improper legal framework.

“In the grand scheme of things, Roble can be rated as successful in his delivery on the most crucial task that fate assigned him: The national elections,” said Adam Aw Hirsi, a Somali political analyst, formerly a senior government official.

“However, where there are steps, there are also missteps. But when you compare his few missteps with the humongous, crucial and time-sensitive elections he oversaw, he comes out with flying colours.”