The Union of Presidential Candidates of Somalia has blamed the country’s President Abdullahi Farmajo and Somali National Army (SNA) Chief, Gen. Odowaa Yusuf Rageh of what the candidates termed as well choreographed engineering of crisis in Gedo for political purpose.
There have been sharp differences between Farmajo’s Federal Government and the Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaam Madobe, the President of the semi-autonomous Jubaland State of Somalia. Mogadishu has been on the onslaught accusing Nairobi of supporting the Jubaland State President, claims Nairobi has termed as baseless and untrue.
In the latest Gedo conflict, Mogadishu had accused Kenya of supporting Jubaland Forces in Beled Hawo, allegations Kenya has so far been cleared by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development – IGAD.
Kenya on has distanced itself on what is happening in the war-torn Somalia saying its not part of its internal crisis. In a diplomatic note to the African Union Commission on Monday, Kenya was concerned of the crisis that has prompted dire humanitarian situation citing many Somali citizens are fleeing from the war-zone in Gedo prefectures and crossing into the Kenyan side. Kenya noted if the situation is not addressed soberly could deal a huge blow on counterterrorism gains so far made against the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab.
Now, the Union of Somalia’s Presidential candidates added weight on the matter blaming President Farmajo for intentionally “militarizing” local conflicts instead of using “dialogue” to solve them. They also accused the SNA chief of aiding the Mogadishu administration to descend violence on innocent civilians.
The leaders underscored that Somalia should embrace dialogue and desist the blame game on her neighbor Kenya noting the latter has sacrificed a lot in an effort to ensure peace and stability is realized in Somalia. The leaders finally called on Farmajo to withdraw SNA troops from Gedo for the sake of reconciliation and dialogue, adding that such a move will be in compliance with the agreement that was signed in September last year in Mogadishu.
The frictions in Gedo reflect political fault lines that cut from national politics down to local clan tensions and constitute a major source of instability for Somalia. Gedo region has been the battlefield for the SNA and Jubaland forces in a conflict that Kenya has also falsefully been dragged into. Security experts have warned that the conflict could give room for the resurgence of Al-Shabaab militants given that SNA, Jubaland security forces, and the Kenya Defense Forces are major stakeholders in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
