MADEIRA TAPES: Embattled envoy’s unbriddled dalliance with Farmaajo earns him a disgraceful exit
GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The leaked audio which many sources have confirmed is that of embattled ATMIS chief Francisco Madeira which has earned the AU envoy the boot from Somalia marks the crescendo of several claims by the opposition that the Mozambican diplomat had immersed himself into the Farmaajo re-election campaign and religiously honoured that call.
This argument, long held by the opposition was buttressed by the swift rejoinder from Villa Somalia which vigorously came into Madeira’s defence leaving no doubt the AU envoy was a treasured player in the Farmaajo re-election team.
The government of Somalia has not received any complaints against ambassador Madeira, Villa Somalia said in its rebuttal shortly after the Office of the Prime Minister announced the AU official was no longer wanted and should board the plane in 48 hours. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Farmaajo’s ally Abidsaid Ali has also affirmed the PM’S position leaving Farmaajo with inconsequential statements from the hill.
Ali who previously served as Farmaajo’s National Security Advisor and a fervent supporter of the outgoing President was expected to take a divergent view but PM Roble seems to have read the riot act against countering his position.
REMARKS ON DEATH OF AMINA MOHAMED
In the leaked tape, Madeira denigrates the opposition and PM Roble’s solidarity over the death of the former MP Amina Mohamed as ‘political expediency’.
“And it is true what happened in Beledwayne – and another suicide bomber no one made much noise about it because no prominent person was killed,” Madeira is heard saying. “But this one this was an MP but now they realized they need to take Farmaajo on because the possibility of Farmaajo winning for them seems to be there and they need to stop that.
“Not necessarily the lady herself but the capital she represents for the moment use that to drop Farmaajo or another attempt to throw Farmaajo,” the AU official added.
Madeira’s woes have been many and coming. The opposition outfit Council of Presidential Candidates has variously complained and written to the AU Commission complaining of Madeira’s ‘deep involvement in Somali politics with a strong leaning towards Farmaajo.
Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira was appointed by then AU Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on October 7, 2015 to head AMISOM. His entry into Somalia came barely a year before the country elected a new president.
His deputy- Simon Mulongo was hounded out of the country in November 2021 on similar charges. Somali government then said Mulong was expelled for ‘engaging in activities incompatible with AMISOM mandate and Somali security strategy’.
AU REPORT
Madeira has faced accusations not just by Somali politicians but even his employer, the African Union. A leaked internal AU report in May 2020 said Madeira regularly interfered with politics in Somalia, often by siding with the federal government or simply looking the other way when civilian rights are trampled on.
The report also pointed fingers at 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 was expected to be neutral.
In the same month, Madeira dismissed a détente between Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe and opposition leaders during a meeting in Nairobi as a ‘pact among Ogaden clans’ sparking sharp criticism including from the opposition which demanded his removal.