Somalia Presidential Candidates

Fifteen Presidential candidates in Somalia on Sunday wrote to the United Nations Security Council asking for its assistance to facilitate an immediate implementation of the electoral process in Somalia so as to ensure prompt parliamentary and presidential elections.

The letter read that “It is deeply regrettable that former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’ and his allies in the administration whose mandate expired on 8 February 2021 have refused to relinquish power and to cooperate in facilitating free and fair elections that will, in short order, validate and empanel a new governing administration in the country. Without the immediate intervention of the Security Council, the former President assuredly will not yield power, and, furthermore, he will continue to disrupt efforts to conduct a democratic electoral process. Farmaajo’s divisive and exclusionary politics targeting Federal Member States and political opponents along with his intentional action to continually postpone elections to seek an unlawful term extension or a power grab through military means have set off the current political crisis that now threatens Somalia’s stability.

We urge your Excellency to intervene swiftly with Farmaajo as the political legitimacy of our fragile institutions require him to make immediate provisions for a transfer of power, step down from the office of the presidency, handover the power to a National Transitional Council consisting of Federal Member State Presidents and the two Speakers of the Lower House and Upper House of the Parliament, and cease all interference in the electoral process. There has been a breakdown of political trust in Somalia because we have been witness to a systematic effort by Farmaajo to subvert democracy and use military forces to unlawfully remain in office. Our country is fragile and finds itself on a precipice confronted by the choice of respecting due process or succumbing to a power grab by the former President.

We wish to raise a second, and related, pressing concern to your Excellency. On
February 18-19, federal government forces under the command and control of former President Farmaajo attempted to assassinate several presidential candidates and opposition leaders, as the forces opened fire on them and other protesters who had gathered peacefully in Mogadishu to demand immediate elections. Hours earlier, the same forces attacked and sought to kill three other presidential candidates at the Ma’ida Hotel. Not only are these acts of aggression illegal and immoral, but they seek to advance Farmaajo’s culture of impunity while suppressing the rights of the Somali people to speak and assemble freely, and gravely undermine the prospect for free and fair elections. Disturbingly, Farmaajo has amassed in Mogadishu, the Somali National Army forces expected to fight Al Shabaab in order to launch fresh attacks on the residences of the presidential candidates with the intention to assassinate the candidates and other political leaders.

The Council of Presidential Candidates’ Union respectfully requests the Security Council take prompt action to investigate these atrocities committed by and on behalf of former President Farmaajo and assist in bringing those responsible to justice. The Security Council has played a historic role in promoting peace and security in Somalia. Action is urgently needed now to counteract illegal efforts by the outgoing regime to cling to power, and to ensure free and fair elections in the coming weeks.

We are grateful for the determination of the international community, over many years, to pursue policies that further peace and stability in Somalia. Developments in the last months and intensified in recent days have undermined these efforts. The former President’s actions have stoked clan disagreements, threatened to destabilize the Somali National Army and other fragile institutions, and emboldened groups such as Al Shabaab who seek to capitalize on instability. It is our sincere hope that, with decisive action now by the Security Council, these setbacks can be reversed, paving the way for imminent democratic elections.”

The fifteen presidential candidates include:

1. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed – Former President of Transitional Federal Government
2. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud – Former President of Federal Government
3. Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adam – Former Speaker of Transitional Federal Parliament
4. Hassan Ali Khaire – Former Prime Minister of the Federal Government
5. Ridwan Hirsi – Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government
6. Abdikarin Hussein Guled – Former President of Galmudug State
7. Hussein Abdi Halane – Former Minister of Finance
8. Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame – Former Minister of Planning
9. Abdulkadir Osoble Ali – Former Presidential Candidate, & Chmn, Committee of Foreign relations in the Federal Parliament.
10. Prof Mohamed Abdi Gandi – Former Minister of Defence
11. Ambassador Dahir Mohamoud Gelle – Former Minister of Information
12. Mustafa Dhuhulow – Former Minister of Information
13. Dr Abdinur Mohamed – Former Minister of Education
14. Mohamed Abdi Siirin – Leader, Kulan Political Party
15. Dr Abdinasir Abdulle – Political activist and former Presidential Candidate

The letter was addressed to :

Her Excellency Dame Barbara Woodward
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations President, United Nations Security Council
CC: H.E Antonio Guterres

Secretary-General,
United Nations, New York
H.E Moussa Faki Mahamet
The Chairperson, African Union Commission
African Union, Addis Ababa

H.E Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State,
U.S, Washington D.C
H.E Josep Borrell Fontelles
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President European Commission,
European Union, Brussels
H.E. Ambassador Smail Chergui,
AU Commissioner for Peace and Security,
African Union, Addis Ababa

H.E Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu,
Executive Secretary,
IGAD, Djibouti

H.E Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Othaimeen
Secretary-General
OIC, Jeddah
H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul-Gheit,
Secretary-General of the League of Arab States
Arab League Headquarters, Cairo