Rebel Bosses And 97 MPs Boycott Fete

October 15, 2004

David Mugonyi
Nairobi

Key factional leaders boycotted the swearing-in of the president.

Among those who stayed away were Hussein Mohammed Aideed and long-time diplomat and former Cabinet minister in former Mohammed Siad Barre's government, Dr Abdullahi Adow, who came second to Mr Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed in Sunday's elections.

In addition, 97 members of the 275-strong Parliament did not attend and the Nation learnt that some were not ready to allow Mr Ahmed to rule unless he agreed to share power with a prime minister and a Cabinet.

Sources also indicated that General Mohammed Said Hirsi Morgan and Mr Musa Sudi Yalahow also skipped the ceremony because of failure by the elected president to bring different groups together.

Mr Aideed, sources said, chose to have a meeting with his allies at a hotel in Nairobi.

An MP said most of the presidential candidates and factional leaders boycotted the event since President Ahmed had not sought reconciliation with them.

It is understood that the son of a former warlord, who ousted President Siad Barre from power, was angered by the violence on Wednesday in which his key ally was killed.

Mr Adow got 79 votes to Mr Ahmed's 189 in a run-off after two rounds of elections failed to produce a clear winner.

Somali MPs who talked to the Nation on condition of anonymity said they were looking forward to seeing the President in Somalia seeking peace and unveiling his programmes.

They said peace would only return to Somalia if locals were involved in electing their president.

Another MP said Somalia's future was hard to predict, adding that if the president was to rule effectively he should first reconcile with MPs.

The lawmakers warned President Ahmed against seeking "handouts" from foreign governments before he restored peace in his country.

Gen Morgan is allied to the southern-based Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM).

Mr Aideed leads the United Somali Congress/Somali National Alliance (USC/SNA).

He is a former US Marine and son of the late General Mohamed Farah Aideed, the warlord who helped to remove Siad Barre from power, and then fought US forces in Mogadishu in 1993.

Former President Daniel Moi also gave the function a miss and instead chose to stay in his Kabarak home.

Although it was not clear whether he was invited or not his press secretary Lee Njiru said there was no arrangement for them to attend.

On Monday, Mr Moi, sent a congratulatory message to President Ahmed on his election.

The former President who had on several occasions during his rule tried to reconcile Somali leaders said the existence of a legal and functional government was the foundation of all human civilisation.