Somalia: Farmajo must resign, presidential candidates insist

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's presidential candidates now want President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to resign after his term elapsed, arguing that he does not have plans to oversee credible and transparent elections in the country, after several rounds of failed talks.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the 15 candidates claimed Farmajo has been trying to seek an extension of his term through member states but his plans flopped. Farmajo's term expired on Feb 8, but he's yet to vacate the office and pave way for polls.

According to the team which is led by former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is keen to frustrate the electoral process in the country and probably, push for a term extension.

"Farmaajo has shown his true intent which is that he doesn't want to conduct a free & fair election in Somalia and the only option he could stay in office was through a political deal with FMS and other stakeholders," read the statement.

Among others, they now want the shooting incident in Mogadishu last Friday to be investigated besides the attack by GorGor troops in a hotel that had been booked by a number of candidates. The incident, they argue, is a manifestation of planned assassinations.

Further, they want Farmajo to immediately resign, terming him "former president". For the talks to take place, they added, all of them should be involved in the planned talks, which failed to kick off last week in Mogadishu.

Also, the team wants top Somali National Army officers to quit, the National Intelligence Security Agency boss Fahad Yasin and some senior police officers over the Mogadishu protests. Farmajo was first elected in 2017.

GAROWE ONLINE