ALL FARMAAJO SPIES: Intel chiefs troop to parliament as Farmaajo’s secret state unveils

By Goobjoog News Political Affairs Editor

Besides orchestrating a well-oiled campaign that has seen his loyalists and allies elected MPs, outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo is also on course to having his staunchest loyalists at the national spy agency elected MPs cushioning them from widespread accusations of murder and packing the 11^th Parliament with spies-cum politicians.

Unprecedented in most jurisdictions world over, the election of sleuths, whose kind of work is a clandestine business, into parliament makes a mockery of the very nature of a spy’s assignment. But in Somalia, the line between an intelligence agent and a politician is fast fading and compromising the functioning of the spy agency.

Since he came into office in 2017, Farmaajo moved in earnestly to restructure the state in fidelity to his playbook. From centralising power through destablisation and installation of allies in the Federal Member States to bringing the Lower House into submission and trampling on the opposition, Farmaajo’s playbook effortless manifested. Despite failing to a two-term extension bid, he has since managed half of that extension. The epilogue, just like the prologue, is seamlessly falling into place.

FARMAAJO’S MEN

So far, acting National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Yasin Farey has been elected MP in Galmudug despite widespread allegations of malpractices. But as Farmaajo’s right-hand man, no institution would have mustered the courage to overturn his election. As Banaadir Regional NISA boss prior to his appointment to head NISA, Farey was credited for suppressing the opposition including banning political rallies in 2018/19.

In Galmudug today, Abdullahi Kulane ‘Jiis’, a prime suspect in the disappearance and alleged murder of female spy agent Ikran Tahlil Farah was elected MP. Kulane Jiis, as he is popularly known, is variously described as the architect of Farmaajo’s clampdown of the opposition. He is also reported to have played a major role in the Gedo clash between Federal and Jubaland forces.

He was removed by Prime Minister Mohamed Roble as Deputy NISA chief on July 23, 2021 over accusations of blocking politicians allied to the opposition from traveling to Gedo region where Farmaajo and Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe had been bitterly feuding. But then NISA boss Fahad Yasin reinstated Kulane on July 28, 2021 and moved him to head the political affairs desk.

By sending these spies to parliament, Farmaajo is dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s in the remaking of the Somali institutions in his image

Fahad Yasin, the cog of the Farmaajo administration and master of the Villa Somalia spycraft during the Farmaajo presidency is also on his way to the August House. He is vying for MP in HirShabelle and his win is a foregone conclusion. Sources indicate he is eyeing the first deputy speaker post. Yasin who was sacked by Roble, reinstated by Farmaajo and later moved to the National Security docket has widely been accused of turning NISA into political machinery for the Farmaajo administration including running the clandestine transfer of Somali youth to Eritrea for military training.

Fahad reportedly mooted the idea and lied to parents that their children were being taken to Qatar to build the 2022 World Cup stadia only to end up in military training centres in Eritrea following the Isaias Afwerki-Farmaajo- Abiy Ahmed bromance that has since tumbled into a domestic tragedy.

THE CONSEQUENCES

By sending these spies to parliament, Farmaajo is dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s in the remaking of the Somali institutions in his image. Whether he makes a come back as President or not, he will have institutionalised a secret state in Somalia akin to that of Siad Barre whom many have thought he follows religiously.

But Farmaajo is not alone in this tragic transformation of the state. By not requiring state officers to vacate office before seeking elective politics, the system has provided Farmaajo with a safe ground through which he can juggle his cards. It’s noteworthy that former NISA chief Abdullahi Sanbalolshe did not resign after his election in 2016 as an MP from HirShabelle.

By intertwining the roles of NISA and Parliament, the country is painfully at a loss. For NISA, its ability to collect actionable intelligence and advise the government of impending threats is adversely compromised since its senior officers are busy playing politics. That means the state is weakened in its ability to confront security threats.

The electorate too has a heavy price to pay. Since their MP has divided loyalty between the House and spy headquarters, his ability to carry out legislative roles is adversely affected. Finally, Parliament’s independence becomes compromised as MPs watch their backs suspicious of one of their colleagues.

It follows therefore that at the end of this election, the incoming parliament (Lower House and Senate) will be one of the heavily compromised institutions in the country.