“Farmajo is a criminal” … Somali opposition continues protests, condemns actions of outgoing president

The Somali opposition described the attempts of the outgoing president, Muhammad Abdullah Farmajo, as a criminal city, for his attempts to stop the demonstrations by force.

The Council of the Presidential Candidates Union (opposition) said that the outgoing president is responsible for the violence in Mogadiscio, adding: What happened is a heinous crime … elements loyal to Farmajo who oppress citizens … Farmajo and his aides will be held accountable for those crimes, violation of the law and assault on the honor and freedom of the somali citizen, according to what was quoted by Al-Ain News from the Council’s statement.

The statement added : Farmajo does not want security and stability for the country and does not want fair elections in which there are equal opportunities for candidates, and believes that he can remain in power without constitutional legitimacy, pledging at the same time to continue organizing peaceful constitutional demonstrations rejecting the Farmajo regime to prevent the creation of a dictatorship in the country. The council believes that Farmajo is a criminal who cannot be part of the solution.

For their part, the states of Jopaland and Puntland, which reject the continuation of Farmajo in power, issued a strongly worded statement about the recent acts of violence in Mogadiscio, in which they demanded not to escalate political differences to the point of using violence and the use of the army to gain political points and accused Farmajo of perpetuating a new dictatorship in the country.

Last Friday, demonstrators led by a number of presidential candidates came under fire near Mogadiscio airport, which opponents considered an assassination attempt by Farmajo.

And video footage circulated showed opponents of intense live fire by the mercenaries of Farmajo, while a number of mortar shells landed Friday on shops inside Mogadiscio airport, which led to the outbreak of fire, and then the airport movement stopped.

Despite the return of calm to the streets of the Somali capital Saturday and the easing of security measures, the absence of effective solutions to the dispute over the holding of the elections threatens the outbreak of armed tensions at any moment that could plunge the country into a new armed conflict.

Despite the opposition’s repetition that they does not want to bear arms and use violence against a regime whose constitutional mandate has expired, the attack of Farmajo elements on the headquarters of the candidates and the demonstrating crowds led by opposition figures could lead to a decision in self-defense against the bloody regime.

Farmajo, who ended his mandate on February 8th, is trying to cancel the demonstrations and deploy hundreds of security personnel in Mogadiscio to impose a comprehensive closure that prevents citizens from going out to the squares for demonstrations.

The opposition announced that they did not recognize Farmajo as the legitimate president of the country and insisted on organizing demonstrations calling for his removal from the palace and the organization of fair and transparent general elections as soon as possible.