Moderate pro-government militia Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa (ASWJ) on Tuesday called on Somalia’s western-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to immediately follow the 2010 Addis Ababa Accord, arguing that it is not fully committed to implementing the agreement.
In March of last year, the Somali government inked a power-sharing deal with ASWJ, which supports the TFG's fight against insurgents in central Somalia, in Addis Ababa under Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
In an exclusive interview with Somalia Report, ASWJ Executive Chairman Sheikh Mohamed Yusuf Hefow said relations between the TFG and ASWJ are strained due to the absence of constructive dialogue.
"I am urging the transition federal government to cooperate with us according to the accord. We are so happy to see a new premier with whom I think we can do much work. Abdiweli M. Ali is the right guy for the premiership and we are hoping to see good governance from his new cabinet," Hefow said.
In the accord, ASWJ was assigned five cabinet slots, foreign diplomatic positions and senior positions in the military and police, including the deputy chief of staff of the army in return for its support against al-Shabaab.
"As you know, we were rewarded many ranks in the accord, we are hoping to see new government that would satisfy our party," he added.
ASWJ were allotted to two important ministries, Interior and National Security as well as the Labour, Social and Workforce Development, in the former prime minister's cabinet.
The group, which fights under religious auspices, has denied accusations of being supported by Ethiopia in its military struggle against the insurgents in battles across central Somalia.