Somali politicians warn against election postponement

Rubeir al-Fares

The Somali government works hard to postpone the presidential elections, despite warnings against this by some organizations.

A coalition of presidential hopefuls had earlier called on President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo to stop trying to “hijack” the presidential elections

They criticized the way the federal Somali government manages the whole elections file and its attempts to postpone them.

The members of the coalition lashed out at the government for failing to reach agreement with the opposition on the way the elections should be held. They said the government works to help President Farmaajo to hijack the elections.

The presidential hopefuls warned against what they described as the “dangerous consequences” of the president’s insistence not to hold the elections.

They asked the president to stop the abuse of power and stop granting oil exploration licenses to companies to prevent Somalia’s wealth from being looted.

The coalition also warned against President’s Farmaajo’s use of foreign policies as a tool in his presidential campaign, especially when it comes to neighboring Kenya.

It said Farmaajo’s policy towards Kenya would open the door for animosities with the neighboring country.

The coalition also expressed concern over the status of Somali refugees and Somali students in Kenya in the light of Farmaajo’s policies towards Nairobi.

It said Kenya was the place whence Farmaajo’s presidential campaign kicked off in 2016.

The coalition said Farmaajo antagonized Ethiopia and befriended Kenya at the time.

However, he is reversing animosities now, the coalition said.