Renowned Scholar Dr. Ali Saeed Faqi Condemns Somalia’s Withdrawal from African Union Election Bid
In Mogadishu, Dr. Ali Saeed Faqi, a former speaker of the South West administration parliament and now a member of Somalia’s lower house of parliament, raised concerns regarding reports that the Somali government is pressuring Fawzia H. Adam to drop her candidacy for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
“If these reports are accurate, it would be a significant setback for Somalia,” Dr. Faqi stated. “Securing the AUC chairman role has immense influence and benefits for our nation’s reputation.”
Dr. Faqi highlighted that holding the AUC chairmanship would enable Somalia to take a leading role in guiding the African Union’s agenda and policies. He also emphasized that it would provide Somalia with a vital platform to address crucial issues affecting both the country and the continent.
He urged the Somali government to reconsider any decision to back out of the race.
Dr. Faqi’s comments come amidst reports that the Kenyan government is lobbying Somalia to withdraw in favor of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, whom Kenya is endorsing for the position.
Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, recently refuted any plans of withdrawal from the competition. Nonetheless, Kenyan media persist in reporting Kenya’s attempts to persuade Somalia to step down from the candidacy for the AUC chairmanship.
Candidates for the African Union Commission chairmanship must submit their applications by August this year, with the election set for early 2025.
