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Mozambican diplomat thrown out of Somalia – but Somali President disagrees | AIM report
5:30 CAT | 07 Apr 2022
File photo: Twitter
The Federal government of Somalia has expelled Mozambican diplomat Francisco Madeira from the country, but the move has been countermanded by the Somali President.
Madeira was working in Somalia as Special Representative of the African Union Commission. But a brief note from the Office of the Somali Prime Minister, Mohamed Roble, dated Wednesday, declared that Madeira is now persona non grata.
The note claimed that Madeira was being expelled “for engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status as a representative of the African Union Commission”. It gave him 48 hours to leave the country.
ALSO READ: Somali Prime Minister orders African Union envoy to leave country
The Somali government asked the AU Commission to recall Madeira, and said it looked forward to working with a new mission head.
The note gave no detail of the acts committed by Madeira which the Somali government had found so offensive.
But the Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (better known as Farmajo), does not agree with the expulsion. Cited on Twitter, he said that the Prime Minister’s decision was illegal.
He said “I have received no complaints of interference” by Madeira, and “I do not support any illegal action against Ambassador Madeira”. He has ordered the Foreign Ministry to apologise to the AU.
Madeira, who is one of Mozambique’s most experienced diplomats, was appointed head of the AU mission in Somalia in October 2015.
Previously he had been AU Special Representative for anti-terrorism cooperation and director of the African Centre of Studies and Research on terrorism in Algiers.
He has been Mozambican ambassador to several African countries, and was a trusted adviser to former President Joaquim Chissano.
He played a role in several peace negotiations, as special representative of Mozambique to the Great Lakes region, and mediator in the peace negotiations for Burundi in Arusha from 1997 to 2000. When Chissano was AU chairperson, he sent Madeira to Sao Tome and Principe following the coup in that island state in 2013. He was also AU special envoy to the Comoros (1999-2010).
FGS finds no wrongdoing undermining #Somalia‘s sovereignty to warrant any action against The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission to Somalia, Amb. Francisco Madeira.
FGS disowns & nullifies the unprocedural removal of Amb Madeira reached singlehandedly. pic.twitter.com/T9r4O61ML8— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) April 7, 2022
FGS led by H.E @M_Farmaajo has received no complaints of interference with its sovereignty & doesn’t endorse any illegal action against Amb. Francisco Madeira. Our Foreign policy is not anchored on emotions & vested interests & we value all our state-building process partners pic.twitter.com/zyOnK9SE2N
— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) April 7, 2022
Somali Government declares the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Francisco Madeira persona non grata for engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status and is ordered to leave Somalia within 48 hours. pic.twitter.com/wyRvDZryqw
— SomaliPM (@SomaliPM) April 6, 2022
Source: AIM
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