I am not responsible for elections delay in Somalia, says Farmajo

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The current political stalemate in Somalia should not be absolutely be blamed on the current administration, Somalia's outgoing President Farmajo has said, arguing that it's a disconnect between the status quo and progressive forces in the country.

In a rare piece penned by himself at the Foreign Policy website, Farmajo, whose term expired on Feb 8, defended his continued stay in office, adding that Lower House passed legislation in 2020 "to ensure that the political transfer of power rightfully happens only through elections".

"This means that the current elected officials have to remain in office until they are reelected or replaced through the electoral process," said Farmajo, who is increasingly under pressure from the main opposition and international partners over the current electoral impasse.

According to Farmajo, the main reason for the delay in elections is because of divisions between the federal government and some federal states on the "way forward" and the "future" of Somalia. He dismissed claims that he's keen to cling to power.

For Farmajo, the main disconnect is his commitment to hold universal suffrage polls and the push by the opposition to having indirect elections, which he says are dictatorial in nature since they "deny" ordinary citizens the right to choose leaders.

"Somalia’s elections have been delayed not because I wish to cling to power, as some have falsely argued, but because of a political impasse that has led to a division between Somalia’s federal government and some of its member states on the way forward," he said.

"At the core of the disagreement is a conflict between my government’s goal of universal suffrage through direct elections and those who insist on an indirect election model that empowers elites and denies ordinary citizens a vote."

The president said he's been determined to hold direct elections which seemed "possible" but adds that some elements have been frustrating the process. To him, he has opened the political space in the country by allowing member states to participate as stakeholders in election preparations.

Despite failing to implement direct polls, Farmajo says his government was determined to ensure September 17 pre-election deal works but insists some political operatives who use "elitism" to consolidate power were uncomfortable, leading to the current quagmire.

"From the beginning of my tenure starting February 2017, my government opened the political space for dialogue in advance of any electoral process to all the federal member states, which are the main election stakeholders," he noted. "In fact, it was always our clear ambition to transition Somalia from indirect elections to full universal suffrage within my four-year term, and it seemed possible after we reached an agreement with the federal member states in June 2018."

Farmajo now says he has entrusted Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to carry on with elections preparations besides leading the mediation team. Roble has already scheduled May 20 for the meeting with stakeholders over the electoral impasse on the implementation of the September 17 pre-election deal, but there is also pressure to have AU mediators.

"To that end, we will, and must always, strive for universal suffrage while implementing the current indirect elections so Somalia escapes the painful recurrent fragility trap in the short term and all of its people can elect their leaders in the long term," Farmajo noted.

Somali MP Ali Omar said the image saving Op-ed is an admission of a total failure since Farmajo was elected to lead not to complain or stay in power illegally.

GAROWE ONLINE