MOGADISHU, Somalia – Abdirashid Janaan, a notorious human rights rapist has announced his intention to run for parliamentary seat in Somalia amid reports of his alleged fallout with incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
At an event in Mogadishu on Saturday, Janaan announced his candidacy for a lower house seat in the upcoming parliamentary polls and would run in Gedo. He controlled sections of the region when he was Jubaland Security Minister.
His candidacy came as Somalia kicked off the much-anticipated elections after months of delays, sparked by a political split. Already Northeastern State and Southwest have concluded the Senate vote.
Janan is wanted for alleged human rights violations in Gedo by Amnesty International who demanded his arrest after escaping in January 2020 from Mogadishu prison and having been on the run for over a year. He surrendered to the Somali government this year.
He arrived in Mogadishu earlier this month shortly after surrendering to Somali authorities after talks with NISA boss Fahad Yasin, who convinced him to leave Jubaland after heavy clashes in the Somali region. Gedo.
Credible sources told The Axadlethat Janan had clashed with the government led by Farmaajo and was now being hosted by one of the main opposition leaders based in Mogadishu. The chef’s name was not immediately verified.
Janan’s relationship with Farmaajo deteriorated after the deals with Villa Somalia failed to materialize. The outgoing government has yet to comment on the matter.
His militia launched an attack on Beled Hawo near the Kenya-Somalia border on January 25 that killed at least 11 civilians and displaced scores, according to the UN.
In Somalia, where there is a formidable justice system, all those accused of committing crimes are running for a seat in parliament to gain impunity, political analysts said.
After his arrest in 2019, the Mogadishu court began hearing Janan’s case, including serious human rights violations, killings of civilians and obstruction of humanitarian aid,
Since last year Amnesty International has been pushing for his arrest for crimes he committed with impunity for years as the country’s powerful regional minister.
Somali government authorities were urged to bring him immediately to court to stand trial and charge with murders, torture, unlawful detention and unlawful renditions between 2014 and 2015.
AXADLETM
