Farmajo Blames Regional Leaders For Lacking Principles Of Federalism

Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has scolded the regional states over what he termed as usurpation amid escalating political tension worsening relations between Somalia’s two levels of government.

Speaking at a ceremony organized by Somali nationals in South Sudan, President Farmajo criticized the leaders of the federal member states in Somalia, saying their mandate is to provide basic services of the community.

“The leaders of the regional states have the duty to deliver basic services needed by their people like, education, health centers, bore-holes and collecting taxes which the genuine system on how the federal governments in the world operate,” Farmajo said.

The president said the regional state leaders want to involve in the foreign policy of the country, which is the mandate of the federal government.

“If you sit down with Salva Kiir [South Sudan President], what is the importance between you and him”. Farmajo said, referring to the leaders of the Somali federal member states.

His remarks on the heel of a call by UN envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Haysom, to solve ongoing disputes between Somali federal government and its states.

during a meeting with Southwest leader, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan in Baidoa town, Mr. Haysom urged the regional state leade to drop the tough stance against the federal government

“We’re exploring ways of bringing them together in the hope that Somalis can face down their problems together rather than going separately,” Mr. Haysom of their discussions.

The envoy warned that the political tensions between the leaders could be set back to the hardly gained achievements