MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali Minister of Petroleum, Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, was dismissed on Sunday in a mini-cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, fueling rumors on social media.
Dahir Shire Mohamed will now head the Petroleum Ministry. Mohamed is the third close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to be removed from office.
Reliable sources suggest his unexpected removal is linked to the alleged theft of funds from an oil deal between Somalia and Turkey. His departure also sparked mixed reactions.
Mohamed said his dismissal is due to differences over how to address the grievances of his home region of Hiran with Hirshabelle, a regional member state in Somalia.
In a statement, he said he has been working to relocate the state capital from Jowhar in the Middle Shabelle region to Bulo Burde in the Hiran region to better serve his constituency.
“The dismissal stems from my proposal to move Hirshabelle’s capital to Hiran to address my constituency’s grievances,” he said. “I couldn’t reach an agreement with the Hirshabelle leadership.”
Local media reports suggest Mohamed and President Mohamud clashed over funds from the Turkish oil deal, with estimates ranging from $9 million to $10 million.
Efforts to resolve the dispute reportedly ended with Mohamed’s removal, a decision attributed to President Mohamud, with his office yet to comment on the allegations.
Unverified sources suggest the dispute centered on the leadership of the Petroleum Ministry, with President Mohamud seeking stronger control.
Somalia faces major corruption challenges common in conflict-torn countries, with rampant corruption and a deeply entrenched patronage system, making it one of the most corrupt nations in the world.
