By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somaliland) – Several major changes have taken effect at the ministry of information and national guidance.
A day after he returned to the country from South Sudan and Ethiopia the guns of the Minister of Information and national guidance blazed in rage thus firing two directors and suspending another one.
Three departments within the ministry of information are to be run by new directors following the sacking of former heads, a move that confirms the existence of infighting at the ministry that has been highlighted by a number of media houses but vehemently denied by the Director General. See http://somalilandsun.com/index.php/politics/government/1333-somaliland-information-ministry-rebuffs-alleged-internal-infighting
in a move that is discerned as an attempt to quell the infighting the minister appointed Mr. Hussein Abdilahi Deeqsi as the new director of SLNTV to replace Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Suleiman while Mr. Omar Mohamed Farah was appointed the director of Dawan Media Group, as replacement for Mr. Mohamed Osman Mire.
In a press statement Hon Abdirahman Yusuf Duale “Boobe’ that informed without giving reasons firing of the two directors also confirmed the suspension of the disgraced SLNTV Director of Adm/Finance Mr. Hasan Mohamed Mahmoud whose temporary replacement is Mohamed Sheikh Mahmud Awale.
The full minister’s statement read
I, Abdirahman Yusuf Duale ‘Boobe’ the minister of information and national guidance as well as the official government spokesperson do hereby announce a number of decisions related to the enhancement of the service provision.
My decisions are related to the conclusion of ongoing rumours about issues related to the harmonious service provision at the ministry, which is one of the pillars of the administration of the President H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo, whose efforts in successful governance will not be allowed to perish through activities of a destructive few.
My decisions are also a warning to others who engage or intent to engage in activities destructive to smooth operations.
My decisions are.
1. Mr. Hasan Mohamed Mahmoud- SLNTV Director of Adm/Finance
On 30 July 2012 the Auditor General embarked on investigations at the ministry that resulted with the arrest of Mr. Hasan Mohamed Mahmoud and subsequent detention at the Kodbur police station.
Mr. Hasan was subsequently arraigned in court on charges of maladministration related to public funds was released on bail pending completion of investigation.
After his release the Auditor general is office that communicated with the ministry through a letter that revealed the amount Hasan is suspected of having misappropriated also requested that he be suspended from duties until investigations are complete.
To this effect this employee is not allowed within the premises of the ministry of information until investigations are complete. As this is an issue that concerns the AG and not the information ministry final decision will be made once investigations are complete.
In the meanwhile I hereby appoint
1. Mr. Mohamed Sheikh Mahmud Awale as the SLNTV Director of Administration who will act on a temporary basis until further notice.
At the same time I hereby appoint
2. Mr. Hussein Abdilahi Deeqsi as the new director of SLNTV and
3. Mr. Omar Mohamed Farah as the new director of Dawan Media Group.
While thanking the immediate directors of the three departments for their service to the public, I also kindly ask them to handover latest by 1 September 2012.
The exit of outgoing directors and the office assumption of new directors shall be supervised by
1) Abdirashid Jibril Yusuf – The Director General ministry of information
2) Saeed Ahmed Igge- The Director of Radio Hargeisa and
3) Muqtar Ahmed Sh Aden-Director of Planning
Due to existing needs the new SLNTV director of Adm/finance Mr. Mohamed Sheikh Mahmud Awale is hereby ordered to assume duties with immediate effect
