Somalia: NSF calls for Farmajo to be held responsible for failed elections
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Calls are growing louder from an alliance of opposition and two federal states in Somalia to hold outgoing President Farmajo accountable for his outrageous actions that led to Somalia missing key election deadlines.
In an open letter to the international community, the Somali National Salvation Forum accused Farmajo of not conducting a consensus-based election process that is legitimate, fair and inclusive during his term.
The NSF said Farmajo has undermined all efforts to find a solution to the current election death toll in Somalia, recalling his exit from the fourth round of negotiations between FGS-FMS in Dhusamareb last February.
“It would be very difficult to have a peaceful dialogue unless Farmajo is held responsible for his outrageous actions of interrupting elections to happen,” the NSF letter reads in part.
In addition, the NSF, made up of presidential candidates, two federal states and Senate speakers, said Farmajo’s unilateral call for the 5th session aims to disrupt the Int’l partners’ efforts for inclusive talks.
The President, whose term of office ended on 8 February 2021, has convened a meeting on 22 March as the partners strive to create a common ground for a summit to be held at the airport facility.
The leaders of the five federal states are in Mogadishu for several days to attend an international partner-mediated conference at the airport to even out the stalemate between FGS and FMS over the election.
Security
Outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has been sending additional troops to the conflict-ridden Ged for the past two days, boosting tensions in the border area, which is a hotspot for the voting crisis.
The NSF accused Farmajo of using the national army for personal and political gain rather than fighting Al-Shabaab, the biggest threat to the country’s security and stability.
In addition, the president who was ousted handed over Mogadishu airport security to a notorious police chief, Sadak John, who led deadly attacks on the opposition, which acted in the order of the Farmajo.
The new move is intended to deploy Turkish-trained Haram’ad police personnel loyal to Farmajo at Aden Abdulle International Airport in an attempt to deter a successful meeting.
The roll-out of the special police unit to the airport warned of triggering a clash with troops protecting the presidents of Northeastern State and Jubaland, who are staying in the liaison under AU troops’ guard.
NSF sent the letter to UN chief Antonio Guterres; US Secretary of State Antony Blinken; First Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab; High Representative of the European Union Joseph Borrell; President of the African Union Moussa Mahamat; Secretary General of IGAD Workneh Gebeyehu; OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen; and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.
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