Somalia: Blow to Farmajo as ATMIS takes over security roles in presidential polls

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo may have suffered a major blow following the allocation of security responsibilities, in just the upcoming presidential election which is scheduled for May 15 after a long wait.

Farmajo, who officially registered as a candidate for the election, has been pushing to have Somali National Army [SNA] take over security responsibilities, adding that the African Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] should just assume periphery roles.

During the elections of MPs and subsequent House leadership polls, Farmajo insisted that the country cannot afford to give ATMIS the responsibility to take over security. This almost created friction between him and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

And on Monday, the joint parliamentary committee on the presidential election released a strict security timeline for the upcoming polls, which seemingly goes against the wishes of the outgoing president, whose term in office expired on February 8 last year.

In the strict protocol, the committee insisted that ATMIS should take charge of security within the venue, with the local security forces expected to play a peripheral role. This is contrary to the expectations of Farmajo.

After taking over security roles, the committee noted, ATMIS will thereafter be unsure that all candidates who have registered for the election are within the venue where they will deliver speeches to lawmakers who will be the voters in this particular election.

Farmajo, who is entitled to high-scale security, will only be allowed to the venue with one bodyguard, a protocol officer, and a clerk. For former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, they will have a protocol officer and polling clerk each.

At the polling center, people carrying electronic devices, money, or narcotics will not be given access. All candidates will only have their bodyguards and vehicles at the Madina Gate within the airport to minimize congestion within the main venue.

Interestingly, the committee has barred journalists from entering the polling station and emphasized that a separate hall with screens has been prepared for journalists. So far, over 30 people have registered as candidates for the Sunday election.

GAROWE ONLINE