Somalia rises against Farmajo … protests, repression and international concern
Mass protests were held Friday in separate areas in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to reject outgoing President Mohamed Abdullah Farmajo.
The demonstrations called for by the opposition, the regime tried to impede it by various means, from using Corona as a pressure card, to suppression and targeting presidential candidates participating in the protests, developments that deeply worry the United Nations.
According to the correspondent of “Al-Ain News”, demonstrators led by a number of presidential candidates opened fire with live bullets near Mogadiscio airport, which opponents considered an attempt to target them with assassination by Farmajo.
Video footage circulated showed opposition fighters fired with intense live bullets by the mercenaries of Farmajo.
Among the most prominent of those who were shot were former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khairy, the leader of the opposition “Wadjar” party, Abd al-Shakur and Rasmi, in addition to the leader of the opposition Sahn party, Abdul Karim Hussein Guled.
A number of mortars fell on shops inside Mogadishu airport, which led to the outbreak of fire, and then the airport, which is still out of service until the moment, was temporarily suspended due to the fire.
It was expected that the protests would include “Delgerca Dahsun” Square in the Pontiri District near the Presidential Palace, but forces affiliated with Farmajo imposed a security cordon on the square to prevent the arrival of demonstrators.
The forces imposed a total closure by deploying thousands of their security forces, which affected freedom of movement in the capital.
In a joint press conference held on Friday in Mogadiscio, presidential candidates who were targeted by live bullets condemned Farmajo’s crackdown, describing the act as “aggressive and irresponsible,” saying it was a “failed assassination attempt”.
They said the peaceful protesters were killed and injured, saying they would announce the death toll later.
They have vowed to continue the peaceful protests and not to deviate from the violence that Farmajo “exactly wants to stay in power, and the country is sliding towards a solution to chaos.”
Concern of the Gentiles
For their part, the UN in Somalia issued an immediate statement on the recent events in Mogadiscio, expressing deep concern over the armed clashes of last night and Friday morning.
Violent clashes erupted at dawn on Friday between Somali government security forces and presidential candidate security agents in the capital, Mogadiscio.
Heavy gunshots were heard from heavy and light weapons after the forces of the outgoing Somali president launched a surprise attack on a hotel in the center of the capital housing presidential candidates including former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khairi.
According to the same statement, the UN called for “calm and restraint on both sides,” urging “dialogue to lead the way by reducing tensions and stressing the urgent need for a meeting to reach a political agreement. On the implementation of the electoral process . “
Farmajo, who ended his term on February 8, is trying to call off the protests and deploy hundreds of security personnel to Mogadiscio, to impose a complete closure that prevents citizens from going to the plazas for protests.
The opposition announced it did not recognize Farmajo as the country’s legitimate president and insisted on staging protests calling for his removal from the palace and holding a fair and transparent general election as soon as possible.
