EDITORIAL: No, ‘some FMS’ not to blame for failed universal vote

GOOBJOOG NEW|MOGADISHU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sunday fought back criticism from the UAE which labelled the outgoing administration as ‘interim’ and accused it of ‘excessive use for force on civilians’.

In its rebuttal, the Ministry lamented ‘misinformed and misleading statements’.

Whereas it is within its right to fend off criticism and objectively set the record straight on behalf of the people of Somalia, the Ministry cannot purport to cry foul of misinformation yet itself is a purveyor of the same.

Without holding brief for the opposition nor the Federal Member States, Goobjoog News finds it imperative to hold accountable and call out the government for misinformation.

The Ministry frivolously claimed that ‘historic one-person-one-vote election was not realized as a result of the refusal of some of the Federal Member State leaders’.

For the avoidance of doubt, the National Independent Elections Commission (NIEC) chairperson Halima Yarey told the Lower House on June 27, 2020, that a one-person-one-vote election would not be feasible within the constitutional timelines requesting up to 13 months to prepare the country for the exercise.

Whereas the differences between Farmaajo and the Federal Member States started traces back to his first four months in office in June 2017, failure to realise the universal vote milestone cannot be attributed to ‘some Federal Member States leaders’.

As President, Farmaajo had the mandate and responsibility to prepare the nation for an election. through the respective arms of government and with the support of the FMS.

It is not lost on any Somali or observer however that Farmaajo and his administration have perfected the art of the blame-Federal Member States, foreign powers, opposition groups; all and sundry except himself.