Candidates Union Strongly Condemns DF expulsion of Kenyan Ambassador.

 

Wednesday, December 2, 2020.The Union of Somali Presidential Candidates has strongly condemned the decision of the Somali government expelled the Kenyan ambassador. A statement from the presidential candidates have expressed concern related the decision taken by the government and explained that it was not a diplomatic move. "Government is undermining Kenya-Somalia relations for election related campaigns” Candidates 'Union argued.

The government has scared candidates' meetings in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and has taken diplomatic action by expelling Kenya's ambassador to Somalia and called Somalia's ambassador to Kenya as well. The move by Farmajo's government appears to be cowardly, linking the election to foreign policy, which has been criticized by academics, politicians and opposition leaders, who have warned against mixing the election campaign with foreign policy.

Candidates say the government's decision to cut ties with Kenya is not in the interest of the Somali people and is being used as an election campaign. They also warned President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to use the country's foreign policy for election campaigns and create hatred and animosity between Somalia and Kenya. They also warned that Farmajo was using political propaganda to disrupt Kenya-Somalia relations. The Council expressed concern that the move would affect Somali businesses in Kenya, students, refugees, migration and political relations between the two countries. They said they saw it as a campaign move by the government to mislead the electoral process.

Farmajo forgot that in 2016 Kenya was the base of Farmajo's campaign, where he and his allies were based. He has forgotten that the motto of his campaign was “Ethiopia is our enemy, Kenya is our brother”, and today he is telling people that Kenya is the enemy of the Somali people. This can only be seen as political cowardice and concern that he will not win the election. Candidates suggested that Somalia’s foreign relations should be based on the country's interests and not on Farmajo's interests.

Farmajo's biggest challenge is the demand of opposition candidates to return to the rule of law and hold free and fair elections in the country. He is looking for a way out of the political turmoil and is manipulating the electoral process by taking unnecessary foreign policy measures at this time.