Mogadishu (AX) – In a charged statement that echoes a stormy sea of political discontent, former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has thrown down the gauntlet to the current leadership. He lambasts their decision to plough ahead with constitutional modifications and an electoral process that seemingly snubs Northeastern State, Jubaland, and other pivotal political players. If the national unity of Somalia were likened to a patchwork quilt, these actions, according to Farmaajo, threaten to rip it asunder, meddling with the threads that bind the nation together.
In a dispatch on Monday that was as fiery as a midsummer sun, Farmaajo raised the alarm about the country’s shaky political path, suggesting that making moves without consensus could place the nation on a slippery slope toward backwardness. “We have repeatedly cautioned that any incomplete amendment to the Constitution risks dismantling the legal framework underpinning government institutions. This framework is built on a mutually agreed constitution,” Farmaajo intoned, his words as grave as a judge’s gavel.
The former leader didn’t hold back, taking a swing at President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud with the ferocity of a hungry lion, cautioning him about the dangers of hosting an electoral jamboree without inviting everyone to the dance floor. He dubbed such maneuvers as the work of a solo player rehearsing a symphony without the orchestra. “Elections and constitutional changes that exclude Northeastern State, Jubaland, and other political leaders disregard the unity and solidarity of the nation. Such actions reflect leadership that prioritizes personal interests over the collective good,” declared Farmaajo, as he painted a picture of a nation spinning a yarn on the tangle of political danger.
In an impassioned plea that was part cautionary tale and part call-to-arms, Farmaajo advised President Mohamud to steer away from centralized decision-making, suggesting it could ignite a tinderbox of division and discord. Like a chef with too many cooks in the kitchen, he worried that unchecked power was a recipe for disaster. He rallied regional states, former presidents, and members of parliament to roll up their sleeves and join hands in a national dialogue aimed at addressing the nation’s pressing political woes. No one’s calling for a kumbaya circle, but it’s clear a collective approach is needed to shake Somalia free from the grip of instability.
Farmaajo’s remarks come on the heels of the National Electoral Commission and Boundaries announcing the start of political organization registrations for the forthcoming one-person, one-vote elections. A move that has turned the whisper of electoral chatter into a full-blown clamor, like a market square alive with noise.
The commission’s chairman, Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, took the podium like a maestro, emphasizing the stringent requirements laid down for parties willing to step up to the plate for the elections. Old political dogs need to learn new tricks, thanks to updated mandates, while fresh faces must tick all the bureaucratic boxes with the precision of a Swiss watch. It’s a game of musical chairs, but only those with all their paperwork in order will find a seat when the music stops.
Amidst all this, one cannot help but wonder: is Somalia’s political future as nebulous as a cloudy sky, or will these hurdles forge a clearer path toward unity and democratic integrity? Only time will tell if this political tug-of-war resolves with grace or leaves vital alliances frayed at the edges. In the meantime, the echoes of Farmaajo’s address linger, a resonant reminder of the profundity of connection in the grand tapestry of Somali politics.
Report by Axadle
