Somalia: Farmaajo is seemingly risking everything to salvage power

Today the stakes of the prolonged elections stalemate is getting evident again. The “Interim” President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo who has made himself President for another two years without an election. This has tricked the status quo and the stakeholders. Where the current occupant of Villa Somalia keenly hoping to stay in power.

Farmaajo has certain factions of armed forces on his side. While the its now evident that the Somali National Army (SNA) have started a mutiny against him. There have been reports of open conflict and shooting in Mogadishu between the ones supporting the opposition and the ones behind Farmaajo.

That is how dire the situation has become. This is coming after African Union, United Nations Security Council and other International Stakeholders have said the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) should continue to negotiate and talks according to the 17th September 2020 elections accord. Which the Villa Somalia have had an impasse with and is ceasing to work accordingly. That’s why they initiated the term extension in the Lower House.

It is now so fickle that the opposition together with mutineers are demonstrating and civilians are fleeing as well. There are reports that the Turkish trained ‘Gorgor’ went to quell the demonstration and silence the demonstrations in Mirinya in Mogadishu today.

This is a bad precedence and its more worrying signs as well. As Somali Journalist Syndicate reported today:

Newly trained Dufan force detained, beat and shot at Radio Hubal journalist Bashir Ali Shire who was live-reporting a violent protest and a gunfight in Karan district in Mogadishu.1 armed officer snatched Bashir’s phone and started kicking and beat with his gun until another officer with a balaclava arrived and shot 1 bullet at the journo which luckily missed him. According to Bashir, he was taken for interrogation & officers’ questions included one about his clan identity before he was freed without charge” (SJS, 25.04.2021).

Therefore, knowing everything that went down is sort of impossible. There is no clear indication of fatalities or possible deaths. As the gun-shots and the operations was active today.

Dufan and Gorgor is following the orders of the Interim President and there is fear for prolonged conflict in Mogadishu. As there is reinforcement on both sides. This here shows how bad the impasse is and what the sides are willing to do. As the President and the Opposition are willing to wage war against each other. Both having militias to fight their battles.

The international community and the AMISOM seems like bystanders to the whole thing. While Al-Shabaab might tool-up and get stronger in the power-vacuum. The losers are the citizens and the ones living in Somalia. As they are pawns in the chess-game of the big man who has brigades following their every move.

This is what happens when Farmaajo trusts his armed forces more than the stakeholders. When he can try to use international interference of a sovereign and downplay his own agenda. He is blaming Kenya and Djibouti for interfering, but in the end… it’s all his fault and his inability to resolve the matters before the end of his term. He had the time and the conferences to settle it all. However, he neglected to do so, because it was in his interest to prolong his term without an election. That’s why we are here today. Which is a tragic result.

It will not end here and possible cost more people’s lives. Stop the ordinary bustle and hustle of Mogadishu. Silence the citizens and weaken the state further. Farmaajo wants to become the personification of the state. He wants to be the state and willing to die on that hill for it. That is how it looks.

Mogadishu today is only showing the true face of Farmaajo and what the detractors thinks are the only way out. As the FGS and Villa Somalia is not willing to bicker on the two year extension. Where they are proving no direct proof of results or announcing proper elections. Only giving Farmaajo more power without holding elections. That is why people calling him illegitimate and the ex-President.

Farmaajo is now using two trained militias, the Gorgor and Dufan to keep the balance of power. That is not out of popularity or his own power, but the way he can use force to be in office. That is the sort of man he has become. All the hope of the previous election is down the drain and only his token allies is behind him. While others have already turned on him and awaiting his fall. Peace.

Somalia: Humanitarian leadership declares drought (25.04.2021)

Somalia: United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Press Statement on the situation in Somalia (23.04.2021)

Somalia: Presidential Candidate Abdulkadir Sharraay – Press Release (23.04.2021)

Somalia: Somali National Salvation Forum – Statement on the Communique Adopted by the PSC of the AU on the Political & Security Situation in Somalia (23.04.2021)

Somalia: Puntland Government Position on the Election Situation in Somalia (22.04.2021)

African Union (AU): Peace and Security Council 993rd Meeting on Somalia – Communique (24.04.2021)

Somalia: AUSPC-Somalia Statement (22.04.2021)

Somalia: Somali National Salvation Forum letter to African Union (AU) Chair of the Peace and Security Council Amb. Mohamed Idriss Farah (21.04.2021)

Somalia: IGAD Supports Return to Dialogue among Somalia Stakeholders (21.04.2021)