The Government of Somalia's Failed State Vanished Overnight in 2021
After former Somalia’s president – Mohammed Farmajo – four year term concluded last night local time, a heavily armed convoy of 50 armored vehicles escorting presidential candidates including Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Abdirahman Abdishakur and Sharif Hassan Sh. Adan passed the first checkpoint at the presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu heading towards the residence of speaker of the parliament, Mr. Mohamed Mursal. Their meeting is seen as part of efforts by key political stakeholders to seek solution as Somalia heads towards uncertainty, once Farmaajo’s term expires on Monday.
Former president Farmajo was elected four years ago with high hopes and expectations of unifying the country, implementing tough security measures in combating the militants extremist Alshabab, leading political changes in terms of the implementation of a new phase of electoral process such as one man-one vote, strengthening the process of dialogues between Somaliland and Somalia, and building the state’s largest and most important institutions. Among the long list of his expectations also included the building and expansion of the national army forces for securing the borders and eliminating Alshabab. The capital city, Mogadishu, was lid with celebratory weapons fired in the sky on February 8th, 2017 to celebrate his election. Several groups of individuals also celebrated in the streets of the cities across the country.
Today, February 8th 2021, marks the end of the president’s four year long term and the situation of Somalia is different. The entire nation were waiting patiently for this day to come because of the series of events including augmented explosions of the capital, countless extrajudicial arrests of journalists, and blackmailing the politicians and other key figures. It is expected that Mursal to lead the transition to national elections in few months from now on.
Below are the main events that the public will keep remembering from his legacy:
- Speaker of the house, Prof. Jawaari, home was invaded and he was forcefully stripped of his position for simply advocating for the elections process and suggested early implementation rather than waiting for the last minutes.
- Parliament impeached Pres. Farmajo for ordering and staging the coup to overthrow the former speaker of the parliament, prof. Jawaari. The impeachment was later nullified after former president, Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud, intervened and held a meeting for 70 parliament members in an undisclosed location in the capital.
- Speaker of the house, Mr. Mursal, surrounded by armed forces and was driven out of his home which was located inside the presidential palace for simply accepting, constitutionally, the motion to impeach Pres. Farmajo. The impeachment articles were signed by over 90 parliament members. He later spent several days at hotel near the airport before returning to his home after the event was cancelled.
- Somalia’s special UN envoy, Nicholas Haysom, was expelled from the country almost overnight in a decision related to his internal investigation and the report of the Baydhawo city massacre by the foreign non-AMISOM troops (Ethiopian troops). He was replaced by James Swan, an American diplomat.
- The country’s finance minister, Mr. Beyle, announced a large amount of money ($60 millions) missing from the central bank without a trace. The government never revealed an investigation conducted by its agencies to solve this grand theft. Sources close to the government later revealed were the money was spent which was employment of social media activists, bribery, and saving a large sum for reelection in 2021.
- The lower house finance committees was dismantled for reporting the missing $60 millions. No formal investigation was ever done.
- Presidential candidate Abdirahman Abdishakur (Wadajir Party) home in Mogadishu was invaded overnight. He was attacked personally and was injured (broken arm). Six of his guards were shot dead and taken by the government forces. Their burial sites remain unidentifiable. The administration never acknowledged this event, nor did they formally apologized.
- President Farmajo signed secret deals of four major ports of Somali with the Ethiopian prime minister. The president never publicly revealed this secret to his nation and he never appeared before the parliament for discussions.
- 8,000 troops were misguided on their initial mission which was a military training outside of the country to Qatar but were shipped to Eritrea instead. It was recently revealed that more than half of these troops were forcefully deployed to the Tigray region in Ethiopia to fight alongside the Ethiopian armed forces who invaded Mekele, the capital city of the Tigray state. Close to 3,000 of them were killed in this conflict. The Somali government denied the news.
- Farmajo administration secretly tried to sell offshore oil blocks of its costal regions in London but the deal didn’t advance after public unrest.
- Kenya ordered several times (3 times) the postponements of the maritime disputes case against Somalia with no Somali government’s consent. This decision is not clear to the Somali public.
- A Somali citizen and former national army officer, Abdikarim Qalbi-Dhagax, was extradited to Ethiopia after he was simply accused of aiding Somali-Ethiopian freedom fighters, ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front). He was later released by the Ethiopian government after several years in jail.
- Senator Abdi Qaybdiid house was also invaded overnight by the government forces without a legal warrant. No one is aware about the reasons for the invasions until today. He was compensated for the property damages and losts.
- Southwest state election was rigged and a puppet and unelected president, Abdiaziz Laftagareen, was installed illegally. Foreign troops participated in forcefully installing this mew leader.
- Hirshabele state election was also rigged and a puppet president, Mohammed Waare, replaced the former head. Waare was also not elected but was installed because of his loyalty to the president.
- Some key political figures of Somaliland’s opposition party (Wadani) colluded with Farmajo’s administration in successfully recruiting Colonel Arreh’s rebel to overthrow the government and create buffer zone in Somaliland.
- Farmajo administration attempted to impose an embargo livestock trading at the port of Berbera during pilgrimage season in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to weaken Somaliland economy. This decision was later rejected by the Saudi authorities who saw their interest in the livestock trading.
- President Farmajo tried to meddle in Jubaland state’s presidential elections by financing couple local loyalists. When the plan went south, the government responded with a foreign military intervention to capture, re-elected Pres. Ahmed Madobe. Once again, these foreign troops were Ethiopians and non-AMISOM.
- The government illegally overthrew Galmudug state president, Ahmed Duale Xaaf by force and installed a loyal puppet president. Somali troops also invaded its capital city to expel local leaders, Macalin Mohamoud and Cheikh Shaakir. Once again the current installed president was never elected. Mass casualties was the results.
- Kidnapping & imprisonment of minister, Abdirashid Janan, of Jubaland state in Mogadishu airport. Minister Janan was held for few months without trials before he escaped by on a boat en route to Kismayo.
- Countless explosions took place in Mogadishu and thousands of lives lost as a result. These explosions almost happened intentionally to distract the nation. It is suspected that the government itself were behind these explosions.
- The parliament sacked the country’s Prime minister, Hassan Ali Khayre, in less than 7 minutes during a parliamentary session to discuss his motion. He was stripped of his position because of his fearless announcement of the electoral process implementation.
- Mogadishu mayor, Eng. Yarisow, was blown out inside his office during a routine meeting and was assassinated for his role and efforts to advocate for Banadir State establishment. Once again an investigation became impossible because of the government cover up to hide his assassination in a Doha hospital after he was flown to Qatar to receive treatment. It later revealed that the Qataris participated in his killing.
- Two former presidents, Presidents Sheikh Sharif & Hassan Sheikh, were almost blown out in mid-air during a flight trip to Beledwayn city. The government tried to assassinate these two presidents after they tour control misguided the Pilot of the plane twice about the condition of the runway. The plan was for the plane to run out of fuels and crash.
- Nominating officers, supporters, and government officials to the national electoral commission. The administration of Farmajo selected these loyalists to rig the presidential elections this year but this effort was rejected by the opposition leaders.
- Government forces firing weapons on innocent protesters in Mogadishu during a peaceful demonstration. The locals counter attacked and also exchanged fires with the army.
- NISA officer drew his weapon and fired few rounds at three protesting women in Mogadishu. These women were brave enough to stand their grounds until the public showed empathy. The girls and some thirteen others were later arrested and detained until they were rescued by General Yusuf Indhacade whom took over the station by force.
- Hirshabele State invasion of Ethiopian forces. Once again another loyalist puppet president was installed after the former president was removed. Ethiopian troops opened fire at the protesters and killed several people.
- The Farmajo administration failed to execute the agreements of September 2020 which was composed of the three parts ( Selecting trustworthy election committee, withdrawing the Somali army troops from Gedo region, and delegating the selections of the Somaliland MPs to the chairman of the senate, Abdi Hashi).
- December 27, 2020, the mandate of the Somali parliament members expired without elections.
- Today, February 8th, 2021, former president of Somalia, Farmajo, term expired at midnight local time without an election.
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author/authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Somaliland Intellectuals Institute (SII), its partners, or sponsors. SII is a non-partisan organization that seeks to publish well-argued, policy-oriented articles on Somaliland foreign policy and nation's priorities in education, healthcare, economy, energy, and infrastructure.