Yes, Dr. Ali Khalif Galaydh has been spotted in Mogadishu’s dark alleys “armed to the teeth” to make off with parliamentary seat from the upcoming Federal Government of Somalia. Galaydh, a man who is well-rooted in fraudulency, having swindled millions of dollars from the late Somali governments, is like the energizer bunny when it comes to his embezzling career. In late 1970s he became the governor of the Societa Nazionale per l’Agricoltura e l’Industria; the starting point of his swindling career. During between 1980 and 1982 he served as a minister of industry in which a numerous times he was accused of misappropriating public funds but each time get acquitted on an unspecified legal technicality. In mid 1980s he was demoted to become a governor of the Mareeray Sugar plant of which he defected, taking off with the entire funds meant to run the plant.  He landed in Boston, Massachusetts, with a suitcase stuffed millions of dollars, bought a huge estate in Cambridge and disappeared into tea parties. Later he relocated to Syracuse, California, and again bought another mansion, where he took a teaching position as a front job, though no one ever bothered to ask how he gained such wealth.

Through the years as the dust settled down, in the year of 2000 he went back to Somalia with the help of Al-Itihad Al-Islam’s top ranks to become a prime minister for Abdiqasim’s Arta regime. Wasting no time, within three months together they both have embezzled over 14 million dollars. After a little over a year in the premier office, the parliament could not stand his knavery and fired him for fraud while he was in abroad yet picking up another donation checks. Once again he made it off with a suitcase full of millions of dollars. This time he landed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, bought another mansion as usual and took a teaching position in the University of Minnesota as a front job.

As years passed by and the dust settled down once again, earlier this year he left for Somalia one more time equipped with all the empty suitcases in the world ready to be filled up with public funds as soon as he snatches a parliamentary seat, according to as he plans. But this time the notorious professor came up with a game changer plan; knowing that he is already burned out in the eyes of the public and could not pull it off by solo, he had to mobilize an entire community in Northeastern Somalia while scouring the Diaspora for his help to gain a seat in Mogadishu, even not sparing the refugees that are welfare recipients to donate for his cause. After an extensive manipulative work of arm twisting, intimidations, persuasions and bribery he won to patch up an entity that advocates his cause which he named Khatumo; a name that makes a perfect sense that it means in Somali “the last”, which gives one the notion that he has chiseled this one to be his last farewell flimflamming to the Somali people due to his age that now has passed over seventy. Some mockingly counter call his Khatumo project as a “Khaatumo-Seeg” meaning in Somali “miss the last (swindle),” hopefully, at least. Nevertheless, mean faced Galaydh has showed up in Mogadishu in a high noon, accompanied by his Khatumo posse of notorious traditional elders that are under his payroll, scaring everyone off the already ruined streets, and demanding to be awarded parliamentary seats at once or else.  Currently there is standoff between his posse and the Technical Selection Committee who has a key role in selecting Members of the country’s new Parliament.

In that regard, Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, is seriously concerned about such delays in the selection of the new Somali Parliament, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

“Recent acts of intimidation and violence (such as that of Khatumo posse)… should not continue or be allowed to threaten the successful conclusion of Somalia’s transition,” the spokesperson said. “He calls upon the Somali political leadership, the traditional Elders and other parties to rise above their differences and to act in the best interest of the Somali people (not to act in the best interest of known swindlers).”

“The Secretary-General emphasizes that the work of the Elders must proceed in a manner free from intimidation, coercion and corruption,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said. “Likewise, the Technical Selection Committee must be allowed to perform its duties independently and impartially, without fear of reprisal. The outcome of its work must be respected.”

“The Somali people expect and deserve a credible, inclusive and transparent end to the transition, delivered in a timely manner, in accordance with the Garoowe Principles, which is the only hope for a stable future for all Somalis,” the spokesperson said, referring to a set of agreements reached between Somalia’s Transitional Government and a range of stakeholders (such of Puntland) on the country’s political arrangements.

On the other hand, it was only about a couple of weeks or so ago when in that regard a similar statement was issued by the office of The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Dr. Augustine Mahiga, warning against such intimidation in the selection of the Members of Parliament.

“There have been disturbing reports of undue influence from aspiring politicians in current and former positions. This influence takes many forms including exchange and demands for favors, bribery and intimidation. We should not allow Parliamentary seats to become commodities for sale or items for auction to the highest bidders at a time when we are seeking to reclaim the true stature of a dignified and respected Somali nation.” Mahiga says in the warning statement.

He has continued saying “The intimidation is extended to the Technical Selection Committee, which has demonstrated its integrity and stands ready to reject the names of people who have a history of violence and obstruction or do not meet the criteria established by the Garowe and Galkayo principles.”

It is not yet known if Khatumo-Seeg posse will call it quits that the Secretary General of the UN, UN Political Office for Somalia, the Somali people and the whole world is watching them closely, and indeed there is neither place to hide, nor a way to fill up those suitcases.

Editor: Taleex Media.