WDM OP-ED

There are only two options available to Farmajo tonight:

1. To resign immediately
2. To accept political defeat and put everything on the table for Somali stakeholders to decide his fate.

But, the damage is done to his political fortune. He has nobody to blame for this turn of events – it is self-inflicted and fatal to his political future. So much for a tin-pot dictator-to-be.

Now, the hard work of stabilizing Somali political theatre is just beginning. There is an urgent need to hold credible elections, do some damage control in restoring trust and faith of the international community in Somali state and institution-building, and finish the work of completing the incomplete Federal Constitution.

Restoring and rebuilding trust between Federal Institutions and Federal Member States constitute the cornerstone of the federal system. Establishing non-clan based national army and security services is essential to have faith in the Federal Government of Somalia. Respect for the rule of law and constitution should be treated as a vetting tool for any officer or official of the federal public institutions. There must be lessons learned from the governance mistakes and abuses of power and breach of public trust. The re-appearance of a “New Farmajo” in Somalia’s political scene must be prevented by law and regulations. Officials aspiring to hold a position of public trust must be vetted thoroughly.

Let the vital work of re- building Somalia begin.