How deep is nepotism in President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and at Villa Somalia? The answer is very simple. Nepotism at Villa Somalia is very deep and its tentacles have now reached where some never expected would reach, the Office of Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Fiqi previously known as a Somali patriot who always stood against nepotism and corruption is now wearing his new colors. Daljir has learned that Minister Fiqi similar to Villa Somalia is also a practitioner of nepotism with the blatant case of Dr. Guleid Artan of IGAD being the latest.
Dr. Guleid A. Artan is the Director of the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC), and he also happens to be Minister Fiqi’s close cousin. Dr. Artan appointed to the position in 2015 by then President Hassan Sheikh has reached retirement period couple of years ago, but with the request and intervention of President Hassan Sheikh in 2022 had his mandate extended one more year.
With his extended mandated now expiring in December 2024, Dr. Artan had on 26 June 2024 received his retirement letter notice from IGAD.
However, this didn’t sit well with President Hassan Sheikh and his Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi.
Minister Fiqi on 6 July 2024, trying to change the retirement situation of his cousin, jotted down an angry letter to Djibouti Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, who also happens to be Chairman of IGAD Council of Ministers.
In a letter with the subject line “Response to the retirement notice given to Dr. Guleid A. Artan,” Minister Fiqi angrily tells IGAD that retirement age is deferred indefinitely and that “only the Somali government reserves the right to change its nominations to the Authority.”
Minister Fiqi with threatening tone added, “Failure to reverse this decision will compel the Somali government to take measures against the Secretariat …”
IGAD on same day and without hesitation responded with a letter that Dr. Artan will retire.
Undeterred and not pleased with the rejection, on same day the 6th of July, Minister Fiqi again jotted another hasty and angry letter, this time to Dr. Workneh, IGAD Executive Secretary.
In a letter with the subject line “Urgent meeting request in Mogadishu,” Minister Fiqi tells Dr. Workneh, IGAD Executive Secretary, “We urgently request your presence in Mogadishu for a face-to-face meeting on 12 July 2024 at 11:00 AM.”
On 10 July, Minister Fiqi didn’t hear from Dr. Workneh but he got a NOTE VERBALE from IGAD.
IGAD responded that the invitation is accepted, but Dr. Workneh “regrettably will not be available for the requested meeting on 12th July 2024 due to prior confirmed official commitments.”
With a second severe rejection on record, both Foreign Minister Ahmed Fiqi and Villa Somalia have so far remained mum.
Unfortunately, while Minister Fiqi is highly preoccupied and very worried about the retirement of a Somali official who happens to be his close cousin, and who is honorably being retired by IGAD, the Minister has yet to say a word or issue an official statement on the egregious and illegal expulsion of First Secretary Fadumo Mohamed Abdi, her husband and children from India by Ambassador Ahmed Ali Dahir.
Contributed to by Daljir staff in Garoowe and Mogadishu
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