Somalia political rift intensifies amid row over missing spy

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has been in the post since 2020

Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has cut some of the prime minister's powers as a bitter rift between the two men intensifies.

He accused Mohamed Hussein Roble of "taking reckless steps that could lead to a political and security crisis".

But Mr Roble said he would not abide by the order, calling it unconstitutional.

The dispute, fuelled by the mysterious disappearance of a female spy, raises fears of armed conflict on the streets of the capital between rival forces.

Ikran Tahlil, 25, was last seen at the end of June, leaving home in an official vehicle.

The government said Ms Tahlil had been kidnapped and killed by al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate which has been waging a brutal insurgency in Somalia and still controls many rural areas of the country.

However, al-Shabab denied the allegation. It normally says when it has killed government agents.

Ikran Tahlil's disappearance has caused huge political divisions in Somalia

The prime minister subsequently suspended the head of the intelligence agency, Fahad Yasin, accusing him of defying his order to report, within 48 hours, on what had happened to the spy.

But the president intervened, saying the prime minister had no authority to sack Mr Yasin - and reinstated him.

The president also rejected the prime minister's decision to sack the security minister.

The president has appointed a commission of inquiry to look into the disappearance of Ms Tahlil, but the spy's mother, Qali Mohamud, dismissed the move, saying she wanted a military court to investigate.

On Thursday, the president's office said in a statement the prime minister's powers - especially over the appointment and dismissal of officials - had been withdrawn until Somalia held elections.

The Horn of Africa nation is scheduled to hold indirect parliamentary elections between 1 October and 25 November.

Hours later, Mr Roble said he would reject the "unlawful" decision. "The prime minister reminds the president to preserve the principles of the constitution of the separation of powers of the government's institutions," he said in a statement.

• Somalia's frightening network of Islamist spies

• Life after al-Shabab: Driving a school bus

• Al-Shabab 'collects more cash than government'

On Sunday, UN deputy head Amina Mohammed met the president and prime minister and urged them to avoid any moves that "could lead to violence and further delay the elections or undermine its credibility".

The two men were involved in a bitter feud in April over the president's decision to delay elections, and extend his term in office, which had expired in February. It led to rival factions of the army clashing in the capital, Mogadishu.

Somalia's security services divided

Analysis by Muhyadin Roble, BBC Somali service editor

This latest escalation of the dispute is deeply alarming. Security chiefs are already divided into the two camps. The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has two acting heads, one appointed by the president and another by the prime minister.

The commander appointed by the president currently controls the agency's headquarters, while the one appointed by the prime minister operates outside the agency's base but still controls its finances, according to government sources.

The military and police commanders are also divided.

These tensions have renewed fears of armed clashes. Rival sets of government troops have already battled for control of parts of the capital several times recently. The most recent one was earlier on Thursday, when police units fought part of the military over land disputed by private individuals.

These deep divisions in the political and military leadership could also make the country more vulnerable to attack by militant group al-Shabab. And discussions about the long-delayed elections also look likely to take a back seat, adding another element to the political crisis.