Geopolitics: President Farmajo Meets Security Chiefs at Villa Somalia Days after PM Khaire’s Impeachment

MOGADISHU, Tuesday, 28^th July 2020, Somalia’s president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo held a meeting with security chiefs at Villa Somalia, days after the impeachments of Hassan Ali Khaire from the position of the Prime Minister. Khaire’s dethronement has attracted condemnations from international community and several opposition leaders.

Khaire, the seemingly power engine of the current Mogadishu administration was impeached by Somali Lawmakers in a parliamentary session that was marred by chaos on Saturday 25^th July 2020. President Farmajo welcomed his ouster by denied his involvement into that decision. Farmajo appointed Khaire’s deputy Mahdi Mohamed Gulaid as acting Prime Minister, noting that a substantive appointment to be made in a month’s time.

Sources privy to the emergency security meeting chaired by President Farmajo at Villa Somalia and attended by top-ranking security chiefs dwelled on current political predicaments engulfed in the Federal Government of Somalia. Sources further revealed that the meeting also touched on security situation in Somalia amid the challenges of COVID-19.

Among the security chiefs present at Villa Somalia included, Somali National Army chief, Gen, Yusuf Odawaa Rageh, Police Commissioner and the national Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) chief, Fahad Yasin. The NISA boss has reported as controversial figure with Somalia’s internal politics.

Local reports also indicate that Farmajo held the meeting same day (Tuesday) ahead of the security meeting with Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye. The meeting was also attended by NISA boss, Fahad Yasin. Kariye who is said was in Mogadishu in a ‘working’ visit, sources indicate that he was in Mogadishu to lobby for the position of Prime Minister to be rewarded to Galmududg State that has been perceived an ally of Farmajo’s administration.

Khaire’s removal came as a surprise to the international community given that he was instrumental in brokering a deal between the Federal Government of Somalia and Member States in Dhusamareb last week. The teams agreed to form a committee that would come up with an appropriate proposal on the electoral model for upcoming elections.

Farmajo’s term in office comes to an end in November and he has expressed intentions to defend his seat. The dethroned PM, Hassan Ali Khaire strategist’s have been running a low-profile campaign for him, Farmajo’s allies familiar with Khaire’s interest to vie in the next elections embarked on crafting for his removal.     

Somalia senior security chiefs have often been blamed of aiding the regime to meet violence on the opposition and civilian, a claim which Villa Somalia has often refuted. For instance, Fahad Yasin has severally been linked to controversial political decisions in Somalia.