Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed

Mohamed was born in Mogadishu. Mohamed is from the Marehan, a family of the Darod clan, the dominant clan in Jubaland.[8] His father was well known in Waberi District as Formaggio, the Italian word for "cheese", and as a result Mohamed was nicknamed Farmaajo.[9] His parents were activists affiliated with the Somali Youth League (SYL), Somalia's first political party. During the 1970s, his father worked as a civil servant in the national Department of Transportation.[10] Mohamed attended a boarding school in Somalia.[10] When the civil war started in 1991 he was studying in the US and he claimed political asylum.[3]

While living in Buffalo, in the United States Mohamed was a registered Republican Party member.[11] Mohamed is a Somali citizen.[12][13] Prior to August 2019, he also held American citizenship, which he voluntarily renounced.[6]

He worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia in an administrative capacity from 1982 to 1985.[14][15] Between 1985 and 1988, Mohamed acted as First Secretary in the Somali embassy in Washington.[12][14][16] After his arrival in America he put himself through school and achieved entry to the University of Buffalo. He graduated with a bachelors degree in history in 1993.[17]

From 1994 to 1997, Mohamed was chosen as an at-large Commissioner for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, and worked there as the finance chairman.[18][13] He also served as case manager for a lead abatement program in the city from 1995 to 1999. Between 2000 and 2002, Mohamed was a minority business coordinator for the Erie County Division of Equal Employment Opportunity.[13]

From 2002 until his appointment as Prime Minister in late 2010, he worked as Commissioner for Equal Employment at the New York State Department of Transportation in Buffalo.[14] During this time he also completed his Masters Degree in Political Science from Buffalo University with his thesis titled, ‘U.S. Strategic Interest in Somalia: From the Cold War Era to the War on Terror’ and taught leadership skills and conflict resolution at Erie Community College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY).[12]

On 14 October 2010, Mohamed was appointed the new Prime Minister of Somalia. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Mohamed on his new role, and commended the Somali leadership for having reached a consensus on procedural arrangements that facilitated a transparent and consultative confirmation of the Premier.[19] On 1 November 2010, Mohamed was sworn into office at a ceremony held in the presidential residence, Villa Somalia.[20]

On 12 November 2010, Mohamed named a new Cabinet, as per the Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) Charter.[21]

The Premier issued a statement indicating that "the Somali people and the international community were waiting for a competent and credible Somali cabinet, and I am happy to appoint this lean but capable cabinet".

As had been expected, the allotted ministerial positions were significantly reduced in number, with only 18 administrative posts unveiled versus the previous government's bloated 39 portfolios. Only two Ministers from the previous Cabinet were reappointed: Hussein Abdi Halane, the former Minister of Finance and a well-regarded figure in the international community, was put in charge of a consolidated Ministry of Finance and Treasury; and Dr. Mohamud Abdi Ibrahim was reassigned to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.[22]

The remaining ministerial positions were largely assigned to technocrats new to the Somali political arena:[23] Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji Faqi, a former diplomat, was appointed one of several Deputy Prime Ministers in addition to the important post of Minister of Defense; the diplomat Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar resumed duties as Foreign Minister, a position he had already held in the past; Dr. Maryan Qasim Ahmed joined the government as Minister for Women and Family Affairs; Dr. Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan Farah as Minister for Internal Affairs and Security; Abdirashid Khalif Hashi as Minister of Housing and National Rebuilding; Abdulkareem Hassan Jama as Minister of Information; and Abdullahi Abyan Noor as Minister for Justice and Religious Issues.[22][23]

President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed welcomed the new Cabinet and encouraged parliament to endorse the appointments.[23] Parliament approved Mohamed's new government on 27 November 2010. 251 of the 343 lawmakers that attended the voting session endorsed the Cabinet, while 92 legislators opposed it.[24]

In his statement to the UN Security Council on his first 50 days in office, Mohamed stated that his administration had completed its first monthly payment of stipends to government soldiers, and initiated the implementation of a full biometric register for the security forces within a window of four months. Members of the Independent Constitutional Commission were also appointed to engage Somali constitutional lawyers, religious scholars and experts in Somali culture over the nation's scheduled new constitution, a key part of the government's Transitional Federal Tasks. High level federal delegations were dispatched to defuse clan-related tensions in several regions.[25]

To improve transparency, Cabinet ministers fully disclosed their assets and signed a code of ethics. An Anti-Corruption Commission with the power to carry out formal investigations and to review government decisions and protocols was also established so as to more closely monitor all activities by public officials. Furthermore, unnecessary trips abroad by members of government were prohibited, and all travel by ministers now require the Premier's consent.[25][26] A budget outlining 2011's federal expenditures was also put before and approved by members of parliament, with the payment of civil service employees prioritized. In addition, a full audit of government property and vehicles is being put into place.[25]

On the war front, the new government and its AMISOM allies also managed to secure control of 60% of Mogadishu, where 80% of the capital's population at the time lived. With almost a thousand newly trained government troops on the way, set to be augmented by an additional 4000 AMISOM soldiers, the pace of territorial gains was expected to greatly accelerate.[25]

The Kampala Accord was an agreement overseen by the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the U.N. Special Envoy to Somalia Augustine Mahiga to bring an end to the 'transitional' phase of the TFG. The parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden said he could not work with Mohamed and so as part of the terms of the agreement, Mohamed was asked to resign.[27] Announcement of Prime Minister Mohamed's proposed resignation was immediately met with violent protests in various cities.[28]

After Mohamed announced his resignation, thousands of civilians, many government soldiers, and some legislators marched through the streets of Mogadishu, demanding that he be reinstated.[28][29] Attacks on hotels in which members of parliament were staying and at least five deaths were reported. Additional demonstrations against the Premier's resignation were held in Galkacyo, a key trading city in the north-central Mudug region, as well as in Belet Hawo in the far south.[28]

In response, Prime Minister Mohamed released a statement through the state-run Radio Mogadishu commending the military for its rapid response and urging its troops to exercise restraint. He also appealed to the public to calm down, and indicated that "I have seen your expressions and heard your calls[...] You are part of the decision making—what you want must be heard."[28] Additionally, in a press conference, the Premier called for the immediate release of all protestors who had been detained, and stated that his administration would launch an independent investigation into their arrest.[30] Weighing in on the demonstrations, Mogadishu's Mayor Mohamed Nur suggested that putting the issue before Parliament for approval would be a democratic course of action.[31]

On 11 June 2011, Prime Minister Mohamed released a statement indicating that the Kampala decision ought to be presented in Parliament for debate and appraised according to the laws stipulated in the national constitution. The Premier also stated that he would only step down if lawmakers voted to uphold the accord.[32] This was echoed by the Cabinet, which indicated in a press release that, after having convened to discuss the Kampala decision, the Ministers agreed that the accord must be put before Parliament for evaluation.[33] In addition, over 200 parliamentarians reportedly sought to urge the Prime Minister to reconvene Parliament so as to deliberate the decision, indicating in a separate statement that the accord deprived MPs of their legislative role vis-a-vis the government.[32]

On 12 June 2011, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed released a statement wherein he condemned the violent protests, describing them as "illegal".[33][34] He also suggested that some government officials were financing the rallies in Mogadishu, and warned that the al-Shabaab group of Islamists that is waging war against the federal government could try to exploit the gatherings to launch terrorist attacks.[34]

In an interview on 16 June 2011, the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs of Italy, Alfredo Mantica, expressed support for Prime Minister Mohamed's position with regard to the Kampala agreement. Mantica stated that the Italian government believed that the accord ought to be reviewed in Parliament. He also indicated that "the prime minister has been in office five months. And [it is too] early to judge his work. But what he has done so far has been very positive. It has achieved important results. The government already seemed a miracle[...] The strength of the instability in Somalia is a constant. And the prime minister represents stability."[35]

The Al Shabaab insurgent group's head of policy and regions, Sheikh Hussein Ali Fidow, told reporters on 22 June 2011 that, "[the] Kampala meeting [on] Somalia was aimed to coerce the Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to step down".[36][37]

Following talks with parliamentarians, Sheikh Sharif asserted on 28 June 2011 that, the Kampala Accord would be brought before Parliament for deliberation.[38]

After his resignation, Mohamed returned to the United States and his old position at the New York State Department of Transportation.[39][40][41][42][43]

Mohamed has taken a tough stance over Somaliland which has been viewed as aggressive, siding with Puntland in the territorial dispute, imposing a blockade of Somaliland airspace and refusing to distribute aid fairly.[59]

In February 2020 a meeting between Mohamed and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi in Addis Ababa was brokered by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia's capital, but no agreement was reached.[60]

Amnesty International produced a report in February 2020 titled "We live in perpetual fear" which focuses on deterioration of press freedom in the country since President Mohamed took office in February 2017.[61]

In April 2020, Laetitia Bader, the Horn of Africa director for Human Rights Watch, appealed to the Somali authorities to 'stop jailing and harassing journalists,' highlighting the fact that it is a particularly crucial time for accurate news dissemination to the public due to the upcoming elections as well as COVID-19.[62]

In May 2020 the International Press Institute wrote an open letter to President Mohamed expressing concern at harassment, intimidation and arrest of independent journalists and media outlets.[63]

In December 2018, lawmakers filed an impeachment motion against Mohamed. The announcement was made following a raid on targeting opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, a member of the rival Habar Gidir clan.[57] The motion alleged that Mohamed signed agreements concerning the use of Somali ports and economic and security cooperation with countries including Ethiopia and Eritrea without consulting parliament or the Cabinet. Additionally, the motion accused Mohamed of not following extradition procedures and of interfering with elections in Puntland and South West State.[64] Also that he bypassed parliament and the Cabinet while appointing military commanders and judges.[58] The motion was eventually withdrawn after fourteen of the MP's whose names appeared on it claimed that they had never actually signed it.[65]

Mohamed was accused of 'openly disregarding the provisions of the Somali constitution' following the manner in which Hassan Ali Khaire was ousted at the Presidents request.[66] Hassan Ali Khaire was forced to resign following a vote of no confidence accusing the Prime Minister of failing to deliver promises including improving the national security and implementing a timely one person, one vote election.[67][68]

Members of the cabinet disputed the legality of the motion and accused the Speaker of failing to respect the parliamentary rule of procedure.[69] The Embassy of the United States in Somalia also expressed concern over; 'Irregularities of the voting process' [70] and the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, released a statement regretting that the motion of no-confidence did not meet the constitutional requirements.[71]

Due to Mohamed's on oing failure to appoint a new prime minister leaders of the opposition claimed that Mohamed was; 'leading an illegitimate government, and showing dictatorial tendencies'.[66]

Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres also condemned the move, pointing out that the acting Prime Minister would not be able to perform certain constitutional duties because he was serving on an interim basis.[72]

On 18 September Mohamed named Mohamed Hussein Roble, who is a political newcomer, as the new Prime Minister. The announcement was made shortly after he brokered an agreement with regional leaders for an election model which would abandon one person, one vote model, which he had earlier promised to deliver.[73]

In December 2020 Mohamed accused Kenya of interference in Somalia's internal affairs in a diplomatic row which resulted in Somalia cutting diplomatic ties with neighbouring Kenya, giving Kenyan diplomats seven days to leave Mogadishu. The Kenyan government denied the allegations claiming that the Somali government is ungrateful to Kenya for the support her country has provided to Somali refugees and it's efforts to bring peace to Somalia'.[74]

Andalou Agency conducted virtual interviews to gauge response to the situation:[75]

The Somali government's decision to cut all ties with Kenya is a reckless and hasty diplomatic stunt, this highly volatile period in the Horn of Africa demands sound leadership and prudent diplomacy.

— Abukar Arman, Horn of Africa and Middle East political analyst

Since Mohamed entered office, there has been a worsening of relations between Somalia's federal government and its member states. This has been blamed on his attempts to exert greater political control over the states and force some of them to replace their leaders with his allies.[76]

Mohamed and his security elements played a major subversive in all elections which happened in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest states. Villa Somalia decided presidents and members of Parliament for all three states, installing puppet figureheads.[77]

Issues which have suffered as a result of the deterioration in central government's relationships with member states include security arrangements, completion of a provisional constitution and holding elections.[76]

In September 2020 the Federal Government of Somalia agreed with member states to hold parliamentary elections on 1 December 2020.[78]

In November 2020 the First Deputy Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament, Abshir Mohamed Bukhari, said that Mohamed had proven unreliable in overseeing the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in the country and that Mohamed and his government could not be trusted with the election.[79]

Following a six day conference in Mogadishu, in November 2020, the Council of Opposition Candidates in Somalia issued a statement calling for the dismissal of the electoral commissions and accusing Mohamed of being an impedance to the implementation of the election deal.[80] In it they called on NISA chief Fahad Yasin to step down due to conflict of interest being that he is also the head of Mohamad's re-election campaign.[81]

The Council of Opposition Candidates accused Mohamed of "bypassing the electoral law by stacking the poll committee with his allies".[82] Opposition candidates including Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused the Federal Government of Somalia of selecting National Intelligence and Security Agency members and civil servants loyal to Mohamed to the Electoral Dispute Resolution Committee. In December the Council of Opposition Candidates accuse Mohamed of deployment of Somali National Army troops to offices which host opposition parties. In Haantadheer security forces fired live rounds closing off major city roads, as hundreds of opposition supporters gathered.[83]

The international community raised concerns about the political standoff, some view this election impasse as a new stumbling block for Somalia's road to democratisation.[84]

Abdirashid Hashi, an analyst at the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies, said the Somali government needed to show stronger leadership.[85][86]

Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe accused Mohamed of violating the September election deal in which the Federal Government of Somalia had promised to withdraw Somali National Army from Gedo region, handing administration to Kismayo.[85]

In December 2020 hundreds of opposition supporters marched through the streets of Mogadishu denouncing Mohamed for delays in elections for both chambers of parliament. Mohamed was accused of wanting to subvert Somali nationhood to consolidate power.[84] During the demonstrations were reports of clashes between gunmen protecting the protesters and security forces.[87]

Former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused Mohamed of suppressing the Somali people after several protesters were arrested and at least four were wounded by Somali forces during anti-government protests, saying:[88]

The rule of law must be protected and the government should always respect the rights and freedoms of the people. We shall not sit and watch someone violating the constitution he swore to protect. It's our duty to call for accountability.

— Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

After hearing that Turkey planned to send a shipment of weapons and ammunition, including 1,000 G3 assault rifles and 150,000 bullets to Harma’ad, a special unit in Somalia's police, between Dec. 16 and Dec. 18, opposition party leaders wrote to the Turkish ambassador in Somalia urging the Turkish government not to send the shipment, for fear that Mohamed would use it to 'hijack' the upcoming elections.[89]

On 2nd February 2021, Mohamed convened a meeting in Dusmareb with federal state leaders in an attempt to break the election deadlock. [90]