Somalia's leaders were locked in a new dispute on Thursday after PM Mohamed Hussein Roble ordered the expulsion of the African Union's envoy.

Roble's office released a statement on Twitter that the envoy Francisco Madeira was declared persona non grata, with the reason being "engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status as representative of the African Union Commission", adding that he must leave Somalia within 48 hours.

Somali Government declares the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Francisco Madeira persona non grata for engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status and is ordered to leave Somalia within 48 hours. pic.twitter.com/wyRvDZryqw

— SomaliPM (@SomaliPM) April 6, 2022

Madeira has been the AU Commission chief's special envoy to Somalia since 2015.

There was no elaboration of the reasons behind the PM's decisions, but the office of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo described the action as illegal, saying it received no complaints of "interference with its sovereignty."

FGS led by H.E @M_Farmaajo has received no complaints of interference with its sovereignty & doesn't endorse any illegal action against Amb. Francisco Madeira. Our Foreign policy is not anchored on emotions & vested interests & we value all our state-building process partners pic.twitter.com/zyOnK9SE2N

— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) April 7, 2022

The same happened back in January, when the Prime Minister also made the same decision back then, and was faced with backlash from the President.

Roble expelled the African Union (AU) Special Representative from Somalia on January 15, accusing him of interfering in Somali domestic politics. 

Somali news outlet Garowe Online said AU envoy Francisco Madeira sided with Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo when he took the decision to dismiss Prime Minister Roble in December.

Read more: How Greed Blinded Somalia’s PM

The news outlet added that ahead of an attempted "coup" by Farmaajo in December, Roble asked the bloc's representative to use additional peacekeepers to secure his office. 

Madeira reportedly denied the PM's request and "deterred the process," which resulted in a political crisis in the African Arab nation.

On December 27, Farmaajo issued an order to remove Roble from office, allegedly over corruption. The president accused his premier of interfering in a probe into a scandal over army-owned land. The military sided with Roble, calling Farmaajo's actions a coup attempt.