Somalia’s Govt blamed for using 'terrorist means' to kill opposition figures

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A leading opposition party has on Thursday accused Federal Government of Somalia [FGS] of a plot to assassinate the opponents by using a terrorist means, Garowe Online reports.

In a statement, the Wadajir party said the FGS provided Hassan Dahir Aweys, a jailed top Islamist a platform to declare its leader, Abdirahman Abdishakur an “infidel” and issued a fatwa of death against him.

Aweys who is under a house arrest in Mogadishu since 2013 after fleeing Al-Shabaab has released a new video this week, slamming Abdishakur’s remarks on women's participation in politics “un-Islamic”.

The party has described this as a secret plot to use renowned Islamist militant to eliminate him and other opposition leaders amid a political crisis over upcoming elections besetting the Horn of Africa country.

Head of National Intelligence Service Fahad Yasin, has been linked to the latest predicament, with Wadajir saying' "It's also good to note the links between the head of NISA and Aweys."

“Aweys is in prison for terrorism, and cannot send any message without help from the Government. It’s also important to note that the ideological links between the director of NISA and Aweys are well known,” read the statement in part.

According to Abdishakur, the Government supports the jailed leader's ideologies, thus the ability for him to continue engaging in politics.

The party said FGS will take responsibility for any harm that may befall the opposition leader and its members.

While defending women's participation in politics, the former planning minister had asked scholars to come out and embrace publicly some of the realities by supporting a paradigm shift.

"I will not accept that women are less in intellect and in religion. I expect the scholars agree with me on this and hope they will clarify this matter," he had tweeted.

It's these remarks that angered the Islamist leader, leading to his Facebook rants in condemnation of the Wadajir party leader comments.

In a statement on Thursday, the Wadajir party also came in strong defense of its leader, accusing FGS of "dispatching its operatives on social media to spread Dahir's message of death".

In December 2017, Somali Government forces have attacked party headquarters in Mogadishu at a midnight, killing five soldiers besides injuring the party leader who then taken into custody.

Yasin, a former Al Jazeera Arabic journalist is a controversial figure in Farmajo's government, was recently accused by Forum for National Parties (FNP) of assuming roles of the president illegally.

According to the FNP, another opposition outfit, Yasin was dispatched by Farmajo's to negotiate with them for a meeting, while the former leaders Hassan Sheikh and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed hail from the same constituency of the Prime Minister.

In the statement, the Wadajir party insisted that "FGS is using people's trust to assassinate opposition figures and should, therefore, take responsibility in case of any eventuality".

The latest claims from a key opposition leader could further subject Farmajo's administration into limbo, amid pressure from the international community to curb violation of human rights.

Somalia is expected to hold elections next year. There is a controversy about whether to adopt the 'one person one vote' model or the ordinary proportional representation.

Farmajo has often remained tight-lipped whenever opposition complains of suppression. Recently, the president apologized to FNP leaders for imposing a travel ban on them during a meeting.

GAROWE ONLINE