Somalia: More pressure piled on Farmaajo to resign

Image

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo is increasingly under pressure to relinquish his seat ahead of presidential elections, with experts insisting that he's becoming a saboteur instead of leading the country in the right direction.

For the last two weeks, electoral exercise in Somalia has literally stalled following differences between Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, who are battling over the control of elections and security in the country.

For the last three days, PM Roble and a host of federal member states leaders have been holed up in Mogadishu where they are trying to find a quick solution to the stalled parliamentary elections. The opposition accuses Farmaajo of rigging in his close allies.

In a Twitter Space discussion hosted by Garowe Online, key speakers seemed to blame Farmaajo for the current impasse, with some calling for his immediate resignation. Sahan Research founder Matt Bryden said Farmaajo has technically failed to lead the country.

For Somalia to get back on track, he noted, Farmaajo should quit and face elections as a candidate like former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who are keen to beat him in upcoming elections.

"Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo must relinquish his claim to national leadership, accept his fate as a candidate just like other former presidents, allow the electoral exercise to go on as planned without undue influence," said Bryden.

"We shouldn't be talking about Commander-in-Chief. What Somalis should be talking about is convener-in-chief," he added in a jibe directed to Farmaajo. The outgoing president has often been accused of derailing meetings between the Federal Member States and the Federal Government of Somalia.

Hassan Haji, a former federal MP also accused Farmaajo of being a divisive leader, adding that Somalia needs a leader of integrity and honesty for the sake of smooth operations. Further, he warned against the foreign influence of the elections.

"Somalia needs a leader with integrity, honesty, knowledgeable, unifier and not a divider," he said. "For the last few years, Somalia has become a battleground of competing gulf countries which influenced the last general election."

Qatar, which is at loggerheads with the United Arab Emirates over dominance in Somalia, has often been accused of meddling in the affairs of Somalia. However, the federal government has always denied the claims, while accusing opponents of divisive leadership.

GAROWE ONLINE

Related Articles

Domestic revenue collection increases in Somalia

The minister further said Somalia will record 3.7% growth in 2024 from 2.8% in 2023. This will be the greatest development record in as many months.

  • Somalia

    27-03-2024

  • 02:35PM

Al-Shabaab strikes key town in central Somalia

Tuesday's attack was at least the third time al-Shabaab fighters attacked the village since last year.

  • Somalia

    27-03-2024

  • 11:31AM