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10 topics the Somalian president should address when he visits the US
by Michael Rubin
| September 18, 2019 12:05 PM
On Sept. 9, Somalia’s government announced that President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed who is better known as “Farmajo,” would make his first visit to the United States as president, first visiting the United Nations General Assembly before traveling to Washington, D.C. This trip will be a homecoming of sorts for Farmajo who, after the collapse of Somalia’s government in 1991, sought asylum in the United States and worked here for years.
Somalia receives only peripheral attention in the U.S., but it nevertheless receives approximately a half billion dollars of foreign aid annually, far more than any country in Latin America and the majority of Africa. Even against the backdrop of budget cuts, U.S. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto has sought nearly to double that funding. But Somalia has little to show for U.S. aid and diplomatic investment: Every year of Farmajo’s administration has seen corruption continue and insecurity increase.
While Farmajo has avoided serious discussion of Somalia’s future in Mogadishu, his visit to the U.S. provides an opportunity for him to answer some basic questions. Below are a few questions Farmajo should be asked, grouped by subject:
1. Transparency
Mr. President, you retained U.S. citizenship until earlier this summer, when you voluntarily renounced it. Did you file income tax each year during which you were an American citizen? Even Americans living abroad without tax obligations must fully report their income.
Your wealth and fortune have increased tremendously since you became Somalia’s president in February 2017. Will you release your filings to show the sources of this wealth? If you have not fulfilled your filing obligations, why not? When you step down from Somalia’s presidency and no longer have diplomatic immunity, will you be able to step foot in the United States? Or would you face charges for tax delinquency from your time as a citizen?
2. Corruption
Mr. President, Somalia receives upward of a billion dollars annually in aid, yet Transparency International has ranked Somalia as the world’s most corrupt country for well over a decade, more corrupt even than Syria, Iraq, Venezuela, Yemen and Afghanistan. “Bribery, stealing of public funds, and profiteering by authorities is an everyday fact of life” in Somalia, it found.
Do you believe Transparency International’s assessment of Somalia is wrong? If so, why? If Transparency International’s findings are correct, however, does that signal that the federal government of Somalia lacks capacity to manage the aid it receives? Why should American taxpayers support sending hundreds of millions of dollars to Mogadishu when most of it is wasted and when corruption remains rampant?
3. Security
Mr. President, it almost seems that terrorist group Al-Shabaab strikes into the heart of Mogadishu, Kismayo, and other supposedly-secure areas of Somalia on a monthly basis, and the problem only appears to be getting worse. Why? Can you show anywhere where you have made progress?
Is the government of Somalia able to maintain security as the African Union Mission in Somalia winds down its mission? How do you assess recent videos emerging showing Somalis seeking absolution from al-Shabab or swearing allegiance to the group?
There have been multiple reports that Al-Shabaab forced workers to cease construction on the Mogadishu stadium. Your government has denied this, despite evidence to the contrary. How, then, do you explain the failure of so many projects to be completed? Corruption? Incompetence?
4. Human Rights
Mr. President, can you speak to the strengths and weaknesses of the Somali constitution? Since you came to power, there have been many killings of opposition activists, and many more have been imprisoned.
An unarmed demonstrator in Baidoa was murdered. Independent journalism has declined under your watch, not only because of repression but also because of financial co-option. What are your human rights priorities? Can you outline a plan to address many of the problems that have emerged under your rule?
5. Travel
Mr. President, when you campaigned for the presidency, you criticized your predecessor for his frequent travel abroad. After all, there was so much work to be done in Somalia, the president was needed at home. And yet, once in office, you have traveled more than many other foreign leaders do.
Over the past year, for example, you have visited Ethiopia at least three-times, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Burundi, Eritrea, Japan, Turkey, the U.S., and soon Russia. This travel doesn’t include that of Somalia’s foreign minister or Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. How much has such travel cost? Can you point to any trip that could not have been conducted by the foreign minister instead?
As a side note: On this current visit, you originally planned visits to see the Somali communities in Minnesota and Ohio, but canceled them after learning of planned protests. Why not listen to the protestors’ concerns directly and, if you believe them unwarranted, debate them head-on?
by Michael Rubin
| September 18, 2019 12:05 PM
On Sept. 9, Somalia’s government announced that President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed who is better known as “Farmajo,” would make his first visit to the United States as president, first visiting the United Nations General Assembly before traveling to Washington, D.C. This trip will be a homecoming of sorts for Farmajo who, after the collapse of Somalia’s government in 1991, sought asylum in the United States and worked here for years.
Somalia receives only peripheral attention in the U.S., but it nevertheless receives approximately a half billion dollars of foreign aid annually, far more than any country in Latin America and the majority of Africa. Even against the backdrop of budget cuts, U.S. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto has sought nearly to double that funding. But Somalia has little to show for U.S. aid and diplomatic investment: Every year of Farmajo’s administration has seen corruption continue and insecurity increase.
While Farmajo has avoided serious discussion of Somalia’s future in Mogadishu, his visit to the U.S. provides an opportunity for him to answer some basic questions. Below are a few questions Farmajo should be asked, grouped by subject:
1. Transparency
Mr. President, you retained U.S. citizenship until earlier this summer, when you voluntarily renounced it. Did you file income tax each year during which you were an American citizen? Even Americans living abroad without tax obligations must fully report their income.
Your wealth and fortune have increased tremendously since you became Somalia’s president in February 2017. Will you release your filings to show the sources of this wealth? If you have not fulfilled your filing obligations, why not? When you step down from Somalia’s presidency and no longer have diplomatic immunity, will you be able to step foot in the United States? Or would you face charges for tax delinquency from your time as a citizen?
2. Corruption
Mr. President, Somalia receives upward of a billion dollars annually in aid, yet Transparency International has ranked Somalia as the world’s most corrupt country for well over a decade, more corrupt even than Syria, Iraq, Venezuela, Yemen and Afghanistan. “Bribery, stealing of public funds, and profiteering by authorities is an everyday fact of life” in Somalia, it found.
Do you believe Transparency International’s assessment of Somalia is wrong? If so, why? If Transparency International’s findings are correct, however, does that signal that the federal government of Somalia lacks capacity to manage the aid it receives? Why should American taxpayers support sending hundreds of millions of dollars to Mogadishu when most of it is wasted and when corruption remains rampant?
3. Security
Mr. President, it almost seems that terrorist group Al-Shabaab strikes into the heart of Mogadishu, Kismayo, and other supposedly-secure areas of Somalia on a monthly basis, and the problem only appears to be getting worse. Why? Can you show anywhere where you have made progress?
Is the government of Somalia able to maintain security as the African Union Mission in Somalia winds down its mission? How do you assess recent videos emerging showing Somalis seeking absolution from al-Shabab or swearing allegiance to the group?
There have been multiple reports that Al-Shabaab forced workers to cease construction on the Mogadishu stadium. Your government has denied this, despite evidence to the contrary. How, then, do you explain the failure of so many projects to be completed? Corruption? Incompetence?
4. Human Rights
Mr. President, can you speak to the strengths and weaknesses of the Somali constitution? Since you came to power, there have been many killings of opposition activists, and many more have been imprisoned.
An unarmed demonstrator in Baidoa was murdered. Independent journalism has declined under your watch, not only because of repression but also because of financial co-option. What are your human rights priorities? Can you outline a plan to address many of the problems that have emerged under your rule?
5. Travel
Mr. President, when you campaigned for the presidency, you criticized your predecessor for his frequent travel abroad. After all, there was so much work to be done in Somalia, the president was needed at home. And yet, once in office, you have traveled more than many other foreign leaders do.
Over the past year, for example, you have visited Ethiopia at least three-times, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Burundi, Eritrea, Japan, Turkey, the U.S., and soon Russia. This travel doesn’t include that of Somalia’s foreign minister or Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. How much has such travel cost? Can you point to any trip that could not have been conducted by the foreign minister instead?
As a side note: On this current visit, you originally planned visits to see the Somali communities in Minnesota and Ohio, but canceled them after learning of planned protests. Why not listen to the protestors’ concerns directly and, if you believe them unwarranted, debate them head-on?
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the dude basically ethered farmaajo with facts lol can't even lie every point was valid, "As a side note: 
atleast farmaajo is a civilian albeit a poor president as this list shows
