Rejected by western donors, Farmaajo seeks AU support in trip to DRC
GOOBJOOG NEWS|KINSHASA: Embattled outgoing Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo jetted off to DRC Monday for the first time since illegally extending his term in a bid to shore up support for his illegitimate stay in office.
In a strategic move to seek continental support amid distaste and threats from western donors, Farmaajo picked the Democratic Republic of Congo as his first port of call where he will be appealing for an endorsement from DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi who is the current chairman of the African Union.
Villa Somalia said Farmaajo was on a ‘working visit’ but it was clear the outgoing President was out on a mission to win support of the AU which has, jointly with the EU, US and the regional bloc IGAD stood ground against term extension.
The visit to Kinshasa comes a day after Farmaajo met with representatives of the international community who demanded a return to the negotiating table. UK ambassador to Somalia Kate Forster met deputy prime minister Khadar Gulaid Sunday where she ‘reaffirmed the UK will not support term extension.’
Farmaajo left Mogadishu as demonstrations broke out in various parts of the city and country against his decision to continue staying in office despite his term coming to an end in February.
The policy think tank International Crisis Group said last week the African Union should take the lead in mobilizing international mediation in the ongoing political crisis in Somalia.