YET AGAIN: Farmaajo laments, claims Kenya planning to attack Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU:   In yet another political gimmick to whip up public opinion for re-election and deflect attention from the disastrous bomb attack that killed 14 people Friday, outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo has sensationally claimed Kenya is massing up forces to attack Somalia.

The Ministry of Information said Saturday the government had obtained information that Kenya was mobilizing troops and militias in the border town of Mandera with the intention of cross border attacks.

“The Federal Government of Somalia has learned that Kenyan forces have deployed weapons and militias in Mandera to raid Belet Haawo and the Somali National Army bases in the area,” the statement which adds to several others from Mogadishu directed at Kenya reads in part.

The statement came out the same day 14 people were killed in Galkaayo when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at Abdullahi Isse stadium hours before Prime Minister Mohamed Roble arrived. He was scheduled to address a rally at the stadium.

The statements by the Federal Government have been variously dismissed by opposition groups as attempts by Farmaajo to influence public opinion in his favour as he seeks to be re-elected in February. However, protests have sprung up in recent weeks against his administration over claims of attempts to rig the elections.

Farmaajo administration announced last week it was cutting diplomatic ties with Kenya in one of the latest political moves by Villa Somalia which also sent a protest note to the regional bloc IGAD.

Farmaajo is expected to fly to Djibouti tomorrow for the heads of states and governments summit in Djibouti where he is set to prosecute his accusations against Kenya.