Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Faarmajo has formally denounced his second citizenship. Faarmajo renounced his US Citizenship, a rare political chess move itself. The Somali constitution allows dual citizenship, but Faarmajo opted to consolidate his pan-Somalist credentials, probably to achieve a nationalist profile and upstage his political rivals including his Prime Minister Hassan Khaire.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Faarmajo is eyeing re-election. The renouncing of his American citizenship is a strategy meant to create a profile of a nationalist. In a country that is socially restive, a nationalists ideology-approach can whip political followership as public seeks refuge from decades of conflict. Will other players in Government and Opposition follow suit to compete against a perceived patriot and pan-Somalist?.
Faarmajo has pulled a fast one on his Prime Minister, Hassan Khaire who has been touting himself as the face of Somali government and subsequently exploiting the limelight to stock sociopolitical mileage. It is highly likely this will prompt new but politically adverse moves that will affect people with dual citizenship and holding public office.
The move can be a strategy to solidify his political grip and bolster his chances of re-election. Constitutional amendments to bar dual citizens from serving in government may follow and that will certainly be a drawback to his main challengers and other political players in what could be a new policy. However, the President may also be creating insulation against American jurisdiction as he plunders the weak and restive Horn country in the guise of a new policy and pan-Somali ideologies. The US laws allow taxation of earnings by it’s citizens and Faarmajo was no exception. Perhaps its a quick way out of massive income taxation of his massive wealth accrued from kickbacks from contractors and oil & gas companies.
