Fahad Yasin, de-facto ruler of Somalia

President Farmaajo appointed Fahad Yasin to be the Chief of Staff of Villa Somalia. The position is usually given to experienced administrators with no political agenda, whose job is to execute the president’s political agenda. 

It was concerning to many Somali political observers to see Fahad Yasin, a former AIAI and ICU member and fighter with a long history and ties to Al-Shabaab leaders Hassan Dahir Aweys, and Mukhtar Robow as well as the late Al-Shabaab leaders Ahmed Godane, Aden Ayrow, and Ibrahim Haji Jama, who were all Specially Designated Global Terrorists, in such a critical position. 

Many western governments were very concerned that, judging from history and ties to Al-Shabaab, Fahad would push his own political agenda against in defiance to the president he now serves.

In the subsequent months, all the concerns regarding Fahad Yasin have come to fruition. Since taking charge, Fahad has masterminded events that created political and security turmoil that undermined regional states and the credibility of the Farmaajo-Kheyre administration. He waged a political campaign to remove regional presidents and opposition political figures.

The regional presidents in several meetings with Farmaajo expressed their outrage, concerns and disappointment, directly telling him that they see Fahad as a threat and a source of political destabilization. 

The regional presidents also expressed similar concerns with the International Community, asking the United States to impose sanctions on Fahad Yasin, whom they regard as a spoiler impeding political progress in Somalia.

Fahad controlled all access to president Farmaajo, becoming the gatekeeper. He presented Kheyre his choice for prime Minister and established a selection process for ministers and senior staff, where he vetted candidates first, preferring family, friends, allies and loyalists over more qualified candidates, making him the de-facto kingmaker in Mogadishu.