MOGADISHU, 29 December 2021, (TON): Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said “he had suspended the powers of the prime minister amid a corruption probe in what the assistant information minister said amounted to an indirect coup.”

He said “Mohamed accused Roble of looting public land owned by the Somali National Army and of interfering with a defense ministry investigation. All other ministers would continue with their duties.”

Roble was not immediately available for comment. But the government spokesperson, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, said on Facebook the president’s action was unconstitutional.

He said “the prime minister would continue with his duties.”

Mohamed and Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble each accused the other of holding up ongoing parliamentary elections in a dispute analysts say may distract the government from its fight against the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgency Al-Shabab.

Mohamed also said he had removed the commander of marine forces, General Abdihamid Mohamed Dirir, from office while a similar investigation was being carried out.