The former US envoy accuses Farmajo of Somalia’s political stalemate
MOGADISHU, Somalia – A former US envoy to Somalia has directly accused outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo of being the stumbling block in the ongoing pre-election negotiations, arguing that the matter should have been checked before it escalated.
In an interview with Voice of America, Somali Stephen Schwartz, who served as US ambassador to Mogadishu from 2016-2017, described the current Somalia situation as “dangerous and unfortunate” that should not happen in the “new millennium”.
He accused Farmajo of not working on an agreed electoral process during his 4-year presidency. He was ambassador when Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was president before handing over to Farmajo.
Schwartz’s statements come just days after the United States and a host of Somalia’s international partners expressed concern after the lower house unilaterally extended President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term for another two years without the upper house approving.
The Somali government’s response to international partners’ statements about the illegal Farmaajo’s extension of the term has been very serious in a rhetorical force, relying on Qatar’s secret cash and military support from Turkey, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Schwartz claimed.
Schwartz said, “no doubt” that Fahad Yasin has powers beyond the control of the intelligence service. He is the political commander and channel for Qatar’s money to Somalia. This gave him a strong influence on FGS and Farmaajo. His role in politics complicates decision-making, he added.
Fahad Yasin is a close associate of Farmajo, and he has pushed for political talks in Somalia to the detriment of the opposition. In the past, the opposition has asked the government to fire him over “bias”.
On Monday, Farmajo DR asked Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi to intervene in Somalia issues in his position as President of the African Union. Farmajo maintained, however, that the country is prepared to hold direct opinion polls as required by law.
AXADLETM
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