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)

Mogadishu on fire: Farmaajo is aiming at his “enemies”

The “expired” and “incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed aka “Farmaajo”. His term has already ended and there was mentions of talks and conference to handle the stalemate on the procedures of the up-coming elections. Now, his not accepted and legitimized by the Lower House and the Council of Presidential Candidates Union’ (CPC). Therefore, after the ceasing of his term. There was questions how things would be.

However, now we are seeing how hostile things are. There is all guns-out and Farmaajo have been close to assassinate several Presidential Candidates and two former Presidents. That is unprecedented. That he does this and usher in the violence. It is not a sign of strength. This is a sign of weakness, as he got no real popularity or prospects of a second term. As he has to ambush and block everyone else from getting elected. That is how it looks from the outside.

A man who has to grab the guns, block demonstrations and stop people from dissenting. When you have not reached or been able to fix an election. Then you know you are the losing one. All of the reports from Mogadishu this Friday is worrying. There is no light in the end of the tunnel here. Only bloodshed and macho-ism with pulling guns and intimidate.

Somalia’s government blocks main roads in Mogadishu. Special training forces were deployed all approaches to Daljirka Momentum where anti-government protests were planned to happen today” (Mowliid Haji Abdi, 19.02.2021).

Somali army reportedly attacked Maida Hotel, where former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud were staying. While the army have also attacked a procession on Airport road done by former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire, Abdirahman Abdishakur and Abdikarim Guled.

Ambulance sirens could be heard and plumes of smoke rose from the area the gunfire near Mogadishu airport, which had been continuing for at least 30 minutes” (Garowe Media, 19.02.2021).

Foreign diplomats located in Mogadishu airport are evacuating to Nairobi as the country descends into new civilstrife. Mortars landed on the airport during heavy clashes” (SomaliaNews, 19.02.2021).

UN Statement on the current

The UN in Somalia is deeply concerned by armed clashes in #Mogadishu overnight and on Friday morning, calls for calm and restraint by all parties involved, and urges that open lines of communication be maintained to help reduce tensions. The UN in Somalia notes that the clashes in Mogadishu underscore the urgent need for Federal Government and Federal Member State leaders to come together to reach political agreement on the implementation of the 17 September electoral model” (UNSOM, 19.02.2021).

All of this here is tragic. It is a travesty. This is how Farmaajo will go out. He will not go out as a noble man, but he used forces and violent tactics to change the Speaker of the Lower House too. This man used all his means to get his people in office across the Republic. So, it is not shocking that he goes to this now. That he doesn’t get his way in the up-coming elections or getting his stipulations for total control ahead of the polls. Because, it seems like he fairs his losing and that’s why rather wants things in the limbo. Hope people give way to his violence…

This is no good. It is just worrying and we can wonder where this is taking the Republic. As the leadership are willing to do this and support it. While the stalemate continues and Famaajo doesn’t back down. Something got to give, but at this point Famaajo is so invested. That his willing to let bullets fly at his enemies. We are just lucky that none of them is deceased by the live-bullets. That shouldn’t be a thing… but it is … because it is clearly the game that Villa Somalia is playing with the rest of the Nation. Peace.

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM): Joint Statement on Fostering Consensus and Reconciliation (15.06.2020)

UNHCR Somalia stands in solidarity with millions forced to flee (20.06.2019)

Mogadishu, 20 June– On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Somalia pays tribute to the millions of people forcibly displaced all over the world.

World Refugee Day is marked on 20 June each year to highlight the courage and resilience of millions of people forced to flee war, conflict and persecution. The day is also an opportunity to express gratitude to governments and host populations that offer asylum, support and protection to refugees.

The theme for 2019 is “inclusion; inclusion of refugees, IDPs and stateless people”. This year, UNHCR is also rallying people around the world to honour the resilience and determination of displaced people in a global movement dubbed, “Step With Refugees”. The campaign invites people to step in solidarity with refugees by either walking, running, dancing, swimming or cycling. Regional organizations are also taking note of the crisis. The African Union declared 2019 as the year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs).

Globally, the displacement crisis in recent years has been unprecedented. At least one person is forcibly uprooted from their homes around the world every two seconds. In total, 70.8 million have been forced to flee their homes globally – among them 25.9 million refugees.

“We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record; and host countries need to ensure the active inclusion of refugees and other displaced families in their countries’ development agenda. Refugees and others in similar situations bring with them great skills and can make meaningful contributions in their communities. Giving them equal opportunities to use their skills also promotes self-reliance and empowerment.” said Takeshi Moriyama, UNHCR Acting Representative.

Somalia is at the epicentre of the refugee and displacement crisis. The country remains one of the top five refugee producing countries in the world with most of its nationals seeking asylum in neighbouring Ethiopia, Kenya and Yemen. More than 2.6 people are also internally displaced mainly due to conflict, drought, floods and evictions. The majority of the internally displaced are located in Banadir, Bay, Sool, and Gedo and Bari regions.

Despite its own internal challenges, Somalia is generously hosting over 34,000 refugees and asylum seekers largely from Ethiopia and Yemen. They mainly live in Woqooyi Galbeed, Bari and Banadir regions. Somali nationals have also been returning home spontaneously from countries of asylum as well as through the UNHCR supported Voluntary Repatriation (Volrep) and the Assisted Spontaneous Return (ASR) Programs. UNHCR has received more than 126,000 returnees from 12 countries including Kenya, Yemen, Djibouti, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Tunisia, Angola, Gambia, Pakistan and Cambodia.