Somalia Politicians Fight Insurgents, and Each Other

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept. 21, 2010 -- Somalia's Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, resigned Tuesday, ending the growing tension between him and Somalia's president, and highlighting just how fractured the country's current transitional unity government actually is.

At a press conference in Mogadishu, the prime minister said he was resigning to end the political turmoil that threatened the country.

"After seeing that the political turmoil between me and the president has caused security vulnerability, I have decided to resign to save the nation and give a chance to others," the prime minister told reporters.

President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed called the act "courageous." Sharmarke thanked "the president and parliament for a year of cooperation."

But beneath the formal, polite tone of today's events lay deep-seated tension and infighting within the fragile government. For months, tensions between the two men and their supporters had intensified to the point where the president fired Sharmarke last May. Parliament declared the move illegal, forcing Ahmed to reinstate the prime minister.

In accordance with current law, the president will now nominate a new head of government. If the 550-member parliament rejects more than two candidates, it will be dissolved, effectively putting an end to the current government. At this time, no one can say who Ahmed will nominate.

The political infighting came amid rising tension between the government and Somali militant groups, the most prominent being al Shabab. The al Qaeda affiliated Shabab was responsible for the suicide bomb attacks in Uganda last July that killed more than 70 people. Al Shabab had also launched endless attacks in Mogadishu, and most recently declared a "final war," during the holy month of Ramadan, against the Somali government and the African Union Troops that protect it.

Al Shabab did not topple the government, but it did launch suicide bombing attacks against government-controlled areas, which included a hotel lodging lawmakers, and the airport. On Monday, a suicide bomber was shot dead as he tried to enter the presidential compound.