Opinion: Turkey ‘gave’ Farmaajo the Gorgor

The Gorgor forces are members of the Somali forces that have received high-level training at the Turkish base in Mogadishu (TURKSOM). Their number ranges between 4,500 and 5,000 supplied with weapons and ammunition from Turkey. They are stationed in Mogadishu, Tosmurib and Beled Hawo, with TURKSOM as their main base. In addition to receiving their orders directly from President Mohamed Abdullah Farmajo, these forces are under the command of Turkish officers at the base” (The Arab Weekly – ‘Turkish-trained special forces take Somalia back to days of civil war’ 20.02.2021).

I don’t know where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is standing in regard to the military expansion in Somalia. Neither does I know his reason for arming the Gorgor Special Unit, which is following direct orders of the former President Farmaajo. This is vital as his term has ended and there is an election stalemate, which has turned bloody.

There is warnings of war, civil-war. A war that Farmaajo has created and State Presidents is calling him out. Not only the Council of Presidential Candidates’ Union (CPC), but the likes of Puntland President and others too. They are calling Farmaajo a dictator and someone who will force himself on the public. This he thinks he can do, because the Turkish armed him with ‘Gorgor’.

That is a monster and vicious beast the Turkish has offered to Farmaajo. Now, since his seen the usage of it in the past. He thinks he can control the conversation and silence his critics with this Unit. Gorgor is the unit that’s been in the streets and used bullets against the demonstrators. The Turkish trained troops was used against the opposition and that shows what Farmaajo does.

He has a unit of 5000 trained soldiers that he can order around. Farmaajo has a small army who he controls and intends to use. Just to prove to his enemies that he got power. That he will not back-down and will destroy the ones in his way.

That is why Turkey better take some responsibility here. The Turkish maybe trained these soldiers to beat Al-Shabaab, but at the same time. They are now useful to quell and silence opposition. Even kill them, if they have too.

Gorgor is their beast. It is now a tool that Farmaajo uses to get his way. As he hopes his forces can weaken and destroy the will of the other political actors. Since, he got the guns. He can brutally get rid of the ones opposing him. Gorgor will do it for him and threaten them, intimidate them and stop them from challenging him.

That is how it seems. The violence of Gorgor on the 18th and 19th February is a sign of what’s to come. Villa Somalia and Farmaajo is clearly aiming at the stars and hitting the moons. Because, they are clearly not in it to talk or negotiate at this given moment. The Turks and Erdoğan have to take their responsibility too. Not just write a vague Press Statement and think we forgets.

The incumbent President and now ‘caretaker’ or ‘interim’ Commander-in-Chief got to carry this too. His the reason for all of this and the one who ordered Gorgor on the streets of Mogadishu. Also the man who couldn’t resolve difference ahead or during the Dhusamareb Summit. Farmaajo has had his time, but now he uses soldiers to grip power. That is clearly his motivation.

Farmaajo should send tokens and gifts to Ankara. Since they are the ones who is shielding his throne. Without Gorgor, the caretaker would have no force to reckon with or even dare to order anyone to the streets. Peace.

Somalia: Open Letter to United Nations Security Council by Opposition Alliance (21.02.2021)

Somalia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Press Statement (20.02.2021)

Somalia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Press Statement (19.02.2021)

Somalia: IGAD Statement on Violence in Mogadishu (19.02.2021)

African Union (AU): Statement of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on the unfolding situation in Somalia (19.02.2021)

Somalia: AMISOM – Interoffice Memorandum – Subject: In-Fighting in Mogadishu (19.02.2021)

Somalia: Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) – Press Statement (18.02.2021)

Somalia: Gurmad Party – Statement on Peaceful Election Demonstrations Issued by Gurmad Presidential Candidate, Dr. Abdinasir Abdille Mohamed (17.02.2021)

Somalia: UN and Government of Somalia call for urgent scaling up of emergency response as 2.65 million Somalis are projected to be in acute hunger (17.02.2021)

17 February 2021, Mogadishu – Over 2.6 million people in Somalia are expected to be in extreme food insecurity according to the latest joint technical assessment released by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). The report cites poor rainfall, flooding and desert locusts among the main contributing factors and warns that the situation could worsen through mid-2021 in the absence of large-scale and sustained humanitarian assistance.

FAO and the Government of Somalia have emphasized the urgency to increase support to sustain ongoing desert locust control and surveillance efforts, and to provide rapid emergency assistance over the coming months.

“Despite relative progress, there has been a new upsurge of desert locusts that has destroyed crops. We will continue working as a combined force to combat the threat of Desert Locusts and mitigate the potential of a more devastating outcome,” said Said Hussein Iid, Somalia’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

The report highlights that desert locusts will continue to pose a serious risk of damage to both pasture and crops countrywide through mid-2021. In addition, available forecasts indicate an increased likelihood of below-average rainfall during the 2021 Gu (April-June) season across most of the country, which would further exacerbate food and nutrition insecurity for millions of people.

“With the Government’s support, our teams and partners have maintained operations in control and surveillance, while delivering crucial humanitarian assistance and livelihood support during extremely challenging circumstances. Expanding the emergency response is crucial and underway, with a focus on interventions aimed at reducing food consumption gaps, saving lives, and protecting and preserving livelihoods,” said Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO Representative in Somalia.

From July to December 2020, assistance reached more than 1.8 million people per month on average in parts of Somalia. This large-scale humanitarian and government support helped to minimize the magnitude of the crisis and funding is needed urgently to boost efforts to reduce the new food security threats the country is currently facing.

Approximately 1.6 million people face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse outcomes in the presence of planned humanitarian assistance during the first quarter of 2021. An additional 2.5 million people are Stressed (IPC Phase 2), bringing the total number of people experiencing acute food insecurity to 4.1 million. This also includes approximately 840 000 children under the age of five who are likely to be acutely malnourished, including nearly 143 000 who are likely to be severely malnourished. According to FSNAU-FEWS NET, from April to June 2021, food insecurity is expected to deteriorate. largely among poor rural, urban and displaced populations, due to the multitude of threats and crises. Humanitarian assistance must be sustained through mid-2021 to prevent Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes for nearly 2.7 million people.

“Somalia’s long-standing crises are compounded now by the ‘triple threat’ of the COVID-19 pandemic, Desert Locust infestations and climatic shocks,” said the UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Adam Abdelmoula, who also serves as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. “We must continue to work with all humanitarian partners to ensure the most vulnerable Somalis are able to withstand the challenges and build resilience against future shocks. I urge all partners to work together across the humanitariandevelopment and -peacebuilding paths to address the root causes of these crises and build lasting solutions that leave no one behind,” he added.