Garowe (PP Editorial) — The President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, dismissed Abdi Farah Said “Juha”, the Interior Minister who had stood by him through thick and thin. Juha is reputed to be a gadfly politician with a background in journalism. He also worked as a capable interviewer of former politicians, journalists, and comrades-in-arms during his time as a member of the first Somali armed opposition front, the Somali Salvation Democratic Front.
Juha is a conviction politician who finds it difficult to navigate the Somali political landscape, which is populated by turncoat politicians. He argued that it was unwise to end the transitional period in 2012 in order for Somalia to establish a permanent government. Juha has never clearly set out his views on Somalia’s federal system. He opposed both the lifting of the arms embargo and debt forgiveness for Somalia, even when the country’s international partners supported those initiatives.
His critics unfairly accused him of that he grew politically and emotionally close to Somali secessionists, who regard his stance “as a case of sour grapes”.
Several years ago, Juha wrote a poem in which he used a number of English words such as “capital”, “comment”, “like” and “share” to refer to how politicians in Somalia use of money to buy influence or stakes in existing businesses.
The following English translation of the poem by Juha is poignant. Some observers have interpreted it as a reaction to his abrupt dismissal as a long-serving Puntland State minister:
Intimidated and secretly cajoled by the enemy to sign away my she-camel
To the wind I threw caution and was deceived by knee-jerk reaction
I animated ambition with lies only to find myself in an empty place
Too much capital I squandered
To let down an admiring public and loyal, well-meaning people to which I said “later” and “no”
No alliance brings you succour
Nor does battle cry or ranting benefit you
Astray camels that fell victim to prey
Cannot be saved by distributed shares
Nor comments and “like” fill a milk churn
Too many songs I sang and was taught
Many times I betrayed the history
In the lurch I left many a sibling and close relatives
To leadership position I propelled a nincompoop
Whom I hosted
And the good governance I undermined
Grown scared of my clothes
And instead chose to conceal myself in garb
Deceived by an enemy lying low, burning fire and lethal snakes
© Puntland Post, 2026