Farmajo’s legitimacy is gone

It is ironic that the places most peaceful, secure, and democratic in Somalia today are those who have stood up for the principles of federalism and de-centralization enshrined in Somalia’s constitution. 

Farmajo is the nephew of former dictator Siad Barre who brought Somalia to ruin with his centralization drive. While the United States has funded and helped train Somalia’s new army, Farmajo has used it more against his political competitors than to fight the Al Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab. 

Today, Farmajo controls or secures only a few square blocks in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab taxes Somali residents and issues business licenses within sight of the Villa Somalia, Indeed, Fahad Yasin, Farmajo’s intelligence chief, maintains links with Islamist terrorist groups.

The crisis is coming to a head in the coming month when Somalis elect a new parliament. Constitutionally, the basis of elections was to be universal suffrage: Every qualified Somali citizen would cast a vote for his or her parliamentary representative and these, in turn, would select the president. 

Farmajo has stacked poll committees with his political allies so that his supporters dominate the new parliament. In addition, he has deployed federal troops to intimidate or undercut his rivals. 

There was no greater national betrayal than the crimes committed by President Farmajo and NISA commander Fahad Yassin against the Somali people. Farmajo is deeply unpopular for failure to deliver, his re-installation will destroy Somalia and will send Mogadishu back to the chaos of 1991.