Why Somalia declared top AU diplomat persona non grata?

The minister said that the AU official who is a Ugandan national was found to have interfered with Somali-owned businesses in Halane camp, seeking extortion money by abusing them with his power.

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Why Somalia declared top AU diplomat persona non grata?

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The minister of foreign affairs Mohamed Abdirizak gave a further explanation about the recent decision to expel the top AU diplomat Simon Mulongo from Somalia.

Last Thursday, the country’s ministry of foreign affairs has declared Mulongo who was serving as deputy AU envoy for Somalia persona non grata, and ordered him to leave Mogadishu within seven days.

The minister said the diplomat was acting out of his mandate in the country as he tried to obstruct an investigation into the murder of seven civilians by Ugandan forces under AMISOM in Golweyn in August.

He was also accused of harassing Somali people living around Halane base camp in Mogadishu and violated an agreement between the government and the AMISOM to provide support to the villagers.

The minister said that the AU official who is a Ugandan national was found to have interfered with Somali-owned businesses in Halane camp, seeking extortion money by abusing them with his power.

Abdirizak said the Somali government was too late in announcing the expulsion decision, noting that it sent a complaint letter against Malungo and his case to African Union officials in Addis Ababa several times.

“We lost patience with his repeated problems and interference. We asked the AU to replace him before issuing the statement ordering him to leave Somalia in seven days,” said the minister.

Mulongo was being expelled because of activities that were incompatible with the mandate of the AU mission in Somalia and the country’s security strategy, according to the statement released last week.

KEYDMEDIA English 

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