Somalia bans street protests to fight coronavirus

Africa News of Wednesday February 24, 2021

Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

02/24/2021

Somalia on Tuesday banned street protests citing Covid-19, which could raise another possibility of clashes with opposition groups.

Somalia’s Security Ministry announcement said the growing number of infections had forced authorities to close the door to any street protests.

But it came a day after opposition presidential candidates announced they would hold protests in Mogadishu on Friday to criticize President Mohamed Farmaajo for delaying the elections.

Somalia, facing an electoral stalemate, has also seen Covid-19 cases increase dramatically this month, forcing the health ministry to order the wearing of masks in public and ban public gatherings. The country had reported 6,246 cases as of Monday with 208 deaths and 3,778 recoveries.

A statement released by the Security Ministry said “appropriate action” will be taken against those who challenge the ban, including arrests.

“In the past 24 hours, 229 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, bringing the total number of positive cases recorded in the country to 6,246,” the ministry said.

Politically, the protest ban is seen as targeting a group of opposition presidential candidates known as the Council of Presidential Candidates. Last week, their demonstration was cut short after security forces fired at protesters. The government later said the opposition used an armed militia to attack the security forces, while the group claimed there had been an assassination attempt against their members.

Speaking to the UN Security Council on Monday, Somali Foreign and International Cooperation Minister Mohamed Abdirazak said his government would respect individual rights to protest, as long as the marches were peaceful.

“Rest assured, presidential candidates have and will continue to have the freedom and political space to express their views and government bodies, as well as the security forces, will fulfill their statutory duty to protect the public against the dark forces of extremism and the silent enemy of the pandemic as they openly express their point of view, ”he said at a UNSC session on Monday evening.

“However, the safety and well-being of the Somali people will remain paramount and no armed insurgency under the guise of political protest will be accepted.”

The opposition group as well as the federal states of Jubbaland and Puntland have refused to engage with President Farmaajo, accusing him of remaining in power and of deliberately delaying the elections.

The two sides disagreed on the implementation of an agreement signed on September 17 last year between the federal government and five federal states; Hirshabelle, South West, Puntland, Jubbaland and Galmudug. A point of contention was the composition of the electoral management bodies as well as the election locations in Jubbaland.

On Tuesday, the United States said the two sides should implement a report tabled by a technical committee established to help close the differences on February 16.

“The recommendations provide a clear framework for breaking the political deadlock that threatens the future of Somalia.

“A peaceful and timely political transition and a renewed commitment between the Somali Federal Government and the Federal Member States to work together are necessary for Somalia to urgently carry out the many tasks it faces.”