Somalia: Hundreds protest against Jubaland President

[Deeq A.]

MOGADISHU (Caasimada Online) – Hundreds of protesters have descended on Bardere town in a huge show of opposition to Somalia’s Jubaland State president Ahmed Mohamed Islam.

Islam’s administration based in the coastal town Kismayo town, some 500km south of Somali capital Mogadishu, has been rocked by allegations for the past months.

The protestors took streets of the town as the demonstration was taken part by angered crowd of students, men, women and young families.

“Not my president,” chanted some of the protesters, while others waved signs with the same message.

President Islam was accused of incompetence, according to Faisa Hussein, who is among hundreds of people took streets of Bardere town.

Hussein has also blamed the president Islam of not contributing to political stability in the town.

“We decided to hold peacefully demonstration against Islam’s administration, we call on the president to step down”, she said.

She says hundreds of people, including students, elderly men and women gathered into main streets of Barder town to protest against Jhubaland administration.

Bardere is an important agricultural town in Gedo region of Somalia. It is also the second most populous town in the Juba Valley.

Last week, hundreds took to the streets to protest against the arrival of a ministerial delegation led by Jubaland’s Minister of Planning, Aden Ibrahim Aw Hersi.

The delegation was attacked with stones thrown by angry demonstrators while the security guards fired bullets to disperse the mob.

The rally comes amid strained relations between Somali government and Jubaland leaders over newly appointed army commanders for country’s forces to Juba and Gedo regions to join in fighting against Al Shabaab.

Caasimada Online

Mogadishu News Desk

Caasimada@live.com