Farmajo plans to seize power in a military coup, says army general

The General’s remarks come as the Federal election body [FEIT] announced a new parliament will be sworn-in on April 14 in Mogadishu as the much-delayed election that began in July 2021 is now at the conclusion stage.

News Keydmedia Online
12 April 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A retired Somali army general warns of a plot by the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to seize the power in a military coup after his four-year term expired early last year.

In an exclusive interview with Keydmedia's Somali service, Gen Yusuf Mohammed Siad [Indhacade] said Farmajo plans to use the army day fete on April 12 as a tool to further consolidate his tyrannical leadership in the country.

We have serious doubts that the outgoing leader intends to stage a coup using the Army Day celebration which he has not held for the past three years – 2019, 2020, and 2021 for unknown reasons,' said the retired general.

Indhacade has called on the military to mark the 62nd anniversary of its foundation but warned the troops and their chiefs against fulfilling Farmajo’s own interest to cling on to power as the country nears the presidential vote.

There are officers in the Somali National Army [SNA] who I know are ready to counter Farmajo's coup attempt that failed twice since last year after a resistance showed by our gallant soldiers,' he added.

Indhacade who served as Minister of Defense of Somalia between 2009 and 2010 said Somalia has seen the consequence of Mohamed Said Barre’s dictatorship for 21 years which led to a bloody civil war that broke out in 1991.

He says Farmajo now wants to return the country to authoritarianism, after consolidating power, undermining the democratic process by which the people used to elect their leaders in the ballot box for the past 22 years.

The General’s remarks come as the Federal election body [FEIT] announced a new parliament will be sworn-in on April 14 in Mogadishu as the much-delayed election that began in July 2021 is now at the conclusion stage.

Farmajo placed Somalia on a risky trajectory that threatened the achievements of his predecessors in the security, state-building, reconciliation, and economic revival during his presidency plotted to disrupt the planned swearing-in of the MPs who will elec a new president.

On the other hand, General Yusuf Mohamed Siyad [Indhacadde], warned politicians, including former PM Ali Mohamed Ghedi, against defending Farmajo and stopping misleading the public with the lies of Villa Somalia. 'The people are now awake.

Finally, Indhacade urged Abdiaziz Laftagareen, the leader of Southwest state to offer an apology for the recent offensive remarks deemed as a tribal feud that he made in Baidoa after FEIT suspended the election of 3 parliamentary seats from his constituency over irregularities and voter fraud.

KEYDMEDIA English