Somalia: PM Shirdon Abets Chief Protocol’s Quest for Asylum

Oslo - The Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon is alleged to have knowingly assisted his chief of protocol abscond while on duties in Geneva and subsequently claim for asylum in Norway. Shirdon's Chief of protocol Abdi Mohamed, known as "Nuune "escaped in Geneva while the PM was attending the UN High commission for the Human Rights council in Geneva during September. According to Radio Dalsan Sources within the PM's office Nuune entered Norway in order to seek asylum from the Norwegian government after absconding from official duties as part of the PM's entourage to the UNHCR meeting in Geneva allegedly with the knowledge and approval of Shirdon. While it is yet to be established if others in the delegation also escaped the Nuune incident puts PM Shirdon in an awkward situation considering that the Geneva meeting was his first foray to Europe in his current capacity. Though the PM is yet to deny or acknowledge the current refugee status of his top aide, the 27 years old Nuune is not the first from government in Mogadishu to seek asylum in Europe or elsewhere during foreign trips but the high sets ranked to do so. The escaping concern became the biggest topic of talk among political offices in Mogadishu and this is not the first time senior Somali diplomatic staff escape in this way. Source: Somalilandsun.com