Somali Government officially announces reasons for firing Deputy African Union chief Simon Mulongo

The Federal Government of Somalia has addressed the dismissal of Ambassador Simon Mulongo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia.

Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamud said Mulongo was found to have attempted to obstruct an investigation by AMISOM forces into the Golweyn massacre in the Lower Shabelle region.

He also said that Ambassador Simon Mulongo had broken an agreement between the federal government and the African Union to provide support to people he said had been abused in Halane camp, a base located behind Mogadishu International Airport that is home to foreign ambassadors, diplomats and internationa agencies.

“We have told the African Union that we have issued several warnings to the man, and now we are in the final stages seeking to replace him.

“We have also conveyed this to the Ugandan authorities, so that we do not allow such an individual to damage our relationship,” he said.

He also accused Ambassador Mulongo of interfering in Somali-owned businesses in the Halane camp, which he said was seeking financial gain.

A November 4th letter from the foreign ministry accused Simon Mulongo of “engaging in activities that are inconsistent with AMISOM’s mandate and security strategy in Somalia,” and ordered him to leave the country within seven days.

According to local reports, Mulongo committed abuses including; issues that damage Somalia’s sovereignty, blackmail against politicians and some Somali leaders, spying on foreign agencies, and many more accusations.

According to new information, the issue of damaging Somalia’s sovereignty, accused of Mulongo, has hampered the Somali Transition Plan, an attempt by the Somali government to take over security from AMISOM and withdraw from the country by 2023.

The African Union last month proposed a different plan to transform the AMISOM mission into a joint UN-African Union force, which the federal government opposed.

Mulongo is believed to be the mastermind behind the plan, which has been widely rejected by the federal government.

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