Somalia expels corrupt AU diplomat over leaked voice recording

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Somalia expels corrupt AU diplomat over leaked voice recording

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia Federal Government on Thursday expelled top African Union diplomat in Somalia, Francisco Madeira after a leaked voice recording circulated online in which he insulted certain communities in Somalia and the country�

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Ambassador Francisco Madeira, 68-yr-old 68-yr-old Mozambican was expelled from Somalia.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia Federal Government on Thursday expelled top African Union diplomat in Somalia, Francisco Madeira after a leaked voice recording circulated online in which he insulted certain communities in Somalia and the country's prime minister.

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble ordered Mr. Madeira to leave the country within 48 hours. "The Office of the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia has the honor to notify the AU Commission Chairperson that the Somali Government declares the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, Persona non Grata for engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status as representative of the African Union Commission and is ordered to leave Somalia within 48 hours," wrote prime minister Roble.

The prime minister's letter got unanimous support from the general public and the alliance of the opposition candidates.

Mr. Madeira, 68-yr-old Mozambican diplomat has been serving seven years as the head of African Union Mission in Somalia.

Politicians, government officials and members of the media community described Mr. Madeira as the "worst corrupt diplomat ever operates in Somalia".

"He was a well-known corrupt big fish in the Halane camp," said an official at the ministry of foreign affairs.

That was not the only thing. An internal report by the African Union (AU) in June 2020, criticises Francisco Madeira for mistreating employees – including refusing to provide sanitary towels – using abusive language, hijacking Amisom donations to gain political mileage and taking sides in situations where the mission is expected to be neutral.

"Madeira introduced an erratic management and leadership style, characterised by fear, suspicion, threats, corruption, favouritism, bullying and intimidation,” the report added, warning that if unchecked, the mission may fail to use its position to support the political process in Somalia.

On Saturday, AU Chairperson Mousa Fakki declined to accept the expulsion of Mr. Madeira. But that only worsened the situation. A letter by the Somali Internal Security Minister ordered immigration authorities to deny Mr. Madeira, who is currently in Nairobi, entry into the country.

"I hereby instruct immigration and airport officials to deny Mr. Madeira entry into the country and cancel all his permit statues," said the letter signed by the Internal Security Minister, Abdullahi Mohamed Nur.

Authorities also imposed a directive to close the airport section that serves UN diplomatic flights.

A LEAKED VOICE RECORDING

Just as Prime Minister Roble expelled Mr. Madeira, a leaked audio recording on Madeira was circulating online. It depicts the AU special representative for Somalia making inflammatory remarks against prime minister Roble and two former presidents.

In the audio, the special envoy appeared to justify incumbent president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s use of military power to pursue political goals.

In this audio, Madiera bats launches unsubstantiated attacks and smears the Somali opposition politicians as well as the presidents of Federal Member States of Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni, Jubbaland's Ahmed Mohamed Islaam, and the U.S government.

The African Union diplomat also says "the election process will be stopped" clearly suggesting a plan to have the ongoing electoral in Somalia process disrupted.

The outgoing president, Mohamed Farmaajo, however has opposed the move by Farmaajo to have him leave the country.

Further, in his leaked audio, Mr. Madeira shamelessly taking sides as he gives a reckless remark on the killing of the late female lawmaker Amina Mohamed Abdi who's killed in the suicide bombing in Beledweyne last month.