Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-Around 50 members of Somalia’s Federal Parliament have filed a motion against Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, accusing him of hindering the operations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Addressed to the Speaker of the House, the motion seeks to remove the Minister from his position, citing inefficiency and poor management according to a copy of documents received by Mogadishu24.

According to the MPs, Fiqi allegedly restricted the responsibilities of key ministry officials, including the State Minister, Deputy Minister, Permanent Secretary, and various directors, by ordering them not to sign official documents.

This directive reportedly led to a significant slowdown in the ministry’s operations. The lawmakers argue that this undermines both national regulations and government protocols.

“The minister’s directives disabled the ministry’s work and brought activities to a standstill whenever he was traveling,” the MPs said.

Additionally, the motion accuses Fiqi of outsourcing certain services of the ministry, such as document verification, to private companies. These companies allegedly used official ministry stamps at private locations and charged citizens additional fees, with a significant portion of those funds not reaching the state treasury.

Ahmed Moallim Fiqi was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in April, following the resignation of his predecessor, Abshir Omar Huruse, who ran for the Puntland presidency.

The news of the motion has sparked mixed reactions among lawmakers and the public. While some parliamentarians welcomed the motion as timely and necessary, others criticized it, arguing that the accusations were politically motivated, serving foreign interests like those of Ethiopia.

Ali M. Omar, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed discontent over the situation, stating on X: “It is unfortunate that Minister Ahmed Fiqi, who is actively defending the country, is being distracted with baseless accusations. The House has a responsibility to protect the integrity of its appointed officials.”

The motion has exposed a rift within Parliament, and it remains to be seen how the issue will unfold in the coming days.