Caputo will lobby on behalf of Somalia and an old friend (Farmaajo)

[Farm]

Michael Caputo, an East Aurora Republican political consultant, is taking on his first lobbying job. (Robert Kirkham/News file photo)

Michael Caputo, Republican strategist, radio talk show host, Senate Intelligence Committee witness, is taking on a new role – foreign lobbyist.

And his first client is Somalia.

Caputo, the East Aurora public relations expert with close ties to President Trump, will represent a country plagued by terrorism, corruption and famine and that sees the United States as a big part of the solution.

"It helps that he has a good relationship with the administration," said Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia's ambassador to the United Nations. "We also think he can help us navigate the issues."

For Caputo, who has served many roles over the years, this is his first stint as a lobbyist.

He represents the Somali Embassy in Washington, D.C., and his longtime relationship with President Mohamed A. Mohamed helped get him the job.

It's a friendship that began in Western New York – Mohamed came here as an asylum-seeker and eventually gained U.S. citizenship – and took root when Mohamed became involved in local Republican politics. He also earned a degree from the University at Buffalo and eventually settled on Grand Island.

Born in Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu, Mohamed returned to his homeland to run for president in 2016 and won. He was picked by the nation's Parliament from a pool of 20 candidates, including the incumbent president.

"I'm honored to be doing this," Caputo said of the appointment. "I also feel compelled to do it."

Caputo thinks the U.S. can do a lot more to help stabilize Somalia. He says he and Trump see eye to eye on what's best for the East African country.

Already known for systemic corruption and frequent droughts and famines, Somalia is facing a newer challenge – an ongoing dispute with al-Shabab, a terrorist group known for suicide bombings.

In July, one of those attacks killed the mayor of Mogadishu and six others.

"Somalia is in a critical transition," Ambassador Osman said, "and the United States is a very important partner, especially in the area of security."

Osman also made it clear the country is looking for help in easing its debt with the International Monetary Fund.

"The Somali people deserve the kind of life we have here in the United States," Caputo said.

Before seeking asylum here, Mohamed worked at Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later at the Somali Embassy in Washington, D.C.

He eventually moved to Buffalo, home to a large Somali refugee community, and went to work at the state Department of Transportation. He also worked on Republican Joel A. Giambra's campaign for county executive and served in his administration.

In 2010, Mohamed returned to Somalia to briefly serve as prime minister, a job that many belief earned him widespread support among the Somali people.

Caputo, who has done political work in Russia, was interviewed by the Senate Intelligence Committee as part its probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

At the time, he said the probe disrupted his life, caused him financial hardship and hurt his family.

https://buffalonews.com/2019/08/25/caputo-will-lobby-on-behalf-of-somalia-and-an-old-friend/

 

[Dues Ex Machina]

We welcome all lobbying efforts on behalf of the Somali government in the US, especially from individuals with ties to the current administration which looks like it'll be reelected. I'm sure Caputo will mention that the current President of Somalia was a former Republican and served on the executive committee for one of the republican officials in New York. Lobbying is mainly about connections and allegiances and as we were a pro-western nation in the 80s we will once again leverage that relationship. Israel gets many benefits from the US due to their impeccable lobbying efforts (AIPAC).

The U.S. and Somalia have one key strategic interest in common among many others which is the destruction of terror. Along with continued air and logistics support, debt relief would greatly enhance the capacity of the government which is a department that U.S. support would easily solve for us.

La-taliyihii hore ee ololaha doorashada madaxweyne Donald Trump, Michael Caputo, oo ah xeelad yahan Jamhuuri ah, ayaa sameystay shirkad u ololeysa dalalka shisheeye, waxaan kalyantigiisa koowaad noqday Soomaaliya.

Cabuto, oo aad ugu dhow saaxiibna la ah madaxweyne Donald Trump, ayaa matli doona Soomaaliya, isaga oo danaheeda ka gadi doona maamulka madaxweynaha.

Waa shaqadii ugu horreysay ee loobinimo ama u ololeeye dal shisheeye oo uu qabto Caputo, oo xisbiga Jamhuuriga Mareykanka aad looga ixtiraamo.

Waxa uu matali doonaa safaaradda Soomaaliya ee Washington DC, waxaana inuu shaqadan helo ka caawiyey xiriirka muddada fog kala dhaxeeya madaxweynaha Soomaaliya Maxamed Cabdullaahi Farmaajo.


Xiriirka Caputo iyo Farmaajo ayaa kasoo billaabmay magaalada Buffalo ee gobolka New York, markaasi oo madaxweynaha Soomaaliya uu ka qeyb-gali jiray siyaasadda deegaanka ee xisbiga Jamhuuriga. Caputo ayaa sidoo kale sanado badan oo noloshiisa ka mid ah kusoo qaatay Buffalo.

“Sharaf weyn ayey ii tahay inaan shaqadan qabanayo” ayuu yiri Caputi oo ka hadlayey shaqada ay dowladda Soomaaliya u magacowday. “Waxaan dareemayaa inay waajib igu tahay inaan qabto”

Caputo ayaa aaminsan in Mareykanka uu wax badan ka caawin kara in xasilooni lagu soo dabaalo Soomaaliya. Waxa uu sheegay in isaga iyo Trump ay isku si u arkaan waxa u wanaagsan Soomaaliya.

“Waa wax na caawinaya inuu xiriir wanaagsan la leeyahay maamulka [Trump]” waxaa sidaas yiri safiirka Soomaaliya ee QM Abuukar Daahir Cusmaan, oo uu soo xigtay wargeyska Buffalo News. “Waxaan sidoo kale rumeysannahay inuu nala xalin karo arrimo badan” ayuu yiri safiirka.

“Soomaaliya waxay ku jirtaa marxalad kala-guur oo xasaasi ah” ayuu yiri Danjire Abuukar, “Mareykanka waa saaxiib muhiim ah, gaar ahaan dhinaca amniga.”

Daniraha ayaa sidoo kale sheegay in dowladdiisa ay raadineyso in gacan laga siiyo sidii looga caafin lahaa daymaha hay’adda lacagta adduunka ee IMF.

“Dadka Soomaaliyeed waxay u qalmaan nolol la mid ah taan ku haysanno halkan Mareykanka” ayuu yiri Caputo.

 

[angelplan]

For the first time in history, somalis seem to have a smart leadership in President Farmajo and Prime Minister Kheyre. Somalia is back thanks to our Turks Broz.

 

[kickz]

Time to get the arms embargo lifted, we need Jets and tanks to finish El Kabob

 

[XamarWeeaboo]

East Aurora

I googled where that was, and it's a village in New York................ I have noting against him, but do villages in the US get representatives in the White House? Also, what is he lobbying for- Somalia getting the embargo lifted or favoring Somalia against Kenya in the ICJ???

 

[Tukraq]

Republican? Major L, probably calls us a shithole behind our backs