Yesterday after many hours the term of incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo ended. He had been staying in Villa Somalia on overtime. The Head of State have used all means to stay in power without an election. After the term ended in February 2021. He tried to have the Parliament to allow him to rule without an election for two years. That was later stopped and he had to reconfigure his stance and way forward as his time was up.
The problems of Farmaajo is that he came with a lot of promises and seems like a likeable guy. However, he was the sort of man that wanted to cling onto power. That’s why his allies even helped to offer and create own military units, which is the likes of Gorgor and Haram’ad. Together with the access of National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Farmaajo has used this to sway member states and get his way. That is getting favourable characters in office and ensure he had loyal cadres inn every part of the Republic.
This is why the President has used insecurity and violence to get his way. That’s why he used soldiers and raids to spread fear. Farmaajo used this to get his men appointed and interfere in the Parliament. He took swift force and used all means to get rid of Jawari as speaker in Parliament. That was done by his Prime Minister Khaire, but on the merits of the Presidency. As the head of state wanted a man who served him there.
People calls him a dictator for a reason. He tried to sway it all and fix the elections as well. While he sacked his Prime Minister and appointed another one. The second PM became the viable force and the one that became his end. He followed the mission and ensured the election happened. Even as the President has done everything he could to stifle it and even throw shade at him. Prime Minister Roble was under-fire and was sought after as he held more meetings and collected the needed progression to make it happen. While Farmaajo tried to make it a farce and crack the code of “non-election”.
That is the sort of fella Farmaajo is and the soft messages to the President-Elect isn’t changing it. We know that Farmaajo didn’t want to leave and had no intention of leaving Villa Somalia. If he could fortified it and besieged it. He would… as he never intended to honour the September 17th 2020 agreement. Which he wasn’t concerned about or hadn’t any heart to fulfil. Just like the man never tried or had the will of giving the public universal suffrage, because that could risk his longevity. As it is easier to manipulate a few MPs versus a whole population of eligible voters.
We can surely think this downfall will not be taken kindly in Asmara or Addis Ababa. For President Afewerki and Prime Minister Abiy he has been a useful leader. He has been part of their axis of alliance on the horn. These have been together in it all and found safe-haven from each other. Though in their meetings, the pictures from it… makes it seems like Farmaajo was the servant for the stronger personalities in Abiy and Afewerki. While Farmaajo also have to answer for the soldiers sent for training in Eritrea and their possible participation in the Tigray war. Therefore, there are many unanswered issues, which reflects what sort of government business Farmaajo did.
Just like he favoured the Turkish and was grateful for their training of soldiers. The President also was connected to Qatar. That’s why these sorts of alliance was important for his reasoning and diplomatic missions. He needed them and he served them a purpose on the Horn of Africa.
Farmaajo might be lost for some. His ways and mannerism isn’t favoured by all. Because, he used force and didn’t care if he violated people’s liberties or freedoms. As President he couldn’t care if he used force to get his will. That’s why many will celebrate his downfall. While others has lost their power-base and the one that could save them. It is always like that after an election and change of power.
Farmaajo had it all and had powerful friends. He didn’t have to worry. What is striking is that he had massive potential and could have used the resources for benefits of the public. He could have reformed in a manner, which haven’t seen before. However, he instead resorted into violence and militarism. That just shows what power does and how it can corrupt a man. Peace.
MinBane 