Hope for Somalia?

Last week, Somalia's Prime Minister -- Nur Hassan Hussein -- was fired by the country’s President, Abdulahi Yusuf. But there is a problem. Hussein is hugely popular in Somalia . . . even to the extent of winning the backing of 143 members of Somalia’s parliament in a confidence vote. The overwhelming majority of the 166 member parliament showed up for a highly charged voting session.

President Yusuf said Sunday he was firing Hussein, a former Red Crescent official who has been in office for 13 months. But, later in the day, Hussein said the president had "no power to dismiss" him. The crisis is just the latest one to strike the impoverished Horn of Africa nation.

It must be noted that Somalia has been without an effective central government for nearly 20 years. Its lawlessness and chaotic existence have also made it a haven for pirates who seize ships for ransom in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. This year is one of the worst on record, with more than 50 ships attacked, 25 hijacked and at least 14 currently being held by pirates. The waters off Somalia are now considered the most dangerous in the world. It is possible that out of this power struggle that is beginning to boil in Somalia between the president and prime minister, the poor of the region may find hope that change will occur . . .

. . . and it appears that any change in Somalia will be change for the better.