Opposition leader accuses Spy chief of trying to spoil poll transparency

by: Staff Reporter | 11 June 2021 19:18

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Opposition leader accuses Spy chief of trying to spoil poll transparency

Mogadishu, Somalia (Horn Observer) Somali Presidential Candidate Abdirahman Warsame has raised red-flag over what he term 'poll process interference' as he accused Somalia's intelligence boss Fahad Yasin of horning in on vetting proces

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Mogadishu, Somalia (Horn Observer) Somali Presidential Candidate Abdirahman Warsame has raised red-flag over what he term 'poll process interference' as he accused Somalia's intelligence boss Fahad Yasin of horning in on vetting process of elections committees.

The Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) which brings together 14 presidential candidates among them two former presidents had been accusing Fahad of using the intelligence apparatus to facilitate the re-election of President Farmaajo.

Abdirahman warned that the government is trying to line up some intelligence apparatus in the election committee, a worrying sign for the independence of the committee if confirmed and yet another setback of delays to implement the historic electoral agreement.

"We commend the Somali army and police chiefs for implementing the election agreement by not interfering in politics & elections. However, the intelligence chief is still meddling in vetting process of elections committees. There are still members of NISA in these committees.” Abdirahman Abdishakur, a presidential candidate said on twitter.

Abdirahman Abdishakur’s statement was seconded by Mohamed Abdullahi Goosaar a candidate contesting against Fahad Yasin on the seat # HOP086 said that NISA chief is planning to fill in other NISA members in both FEIT, SEIT and the dispute resolution committee.

"As a candidate for this seat # HOP086, I would like to tell the elders, politicians and youth that it is disgraceful our seat become subject to looting, corruption and constant violence” Mohamed Abdullahi Goosaar, a parliamentary seat candidate said. "My candidacy is a testament to PM Roble and his commitment to a free and fair election in line with the historic electoral agreement in late May.”

This follows days after the Ministerial-Level Committee appointed by the PM Mohamed Hussein Roble removed 34 members from both levels of electoral commissions out of 67 members.

The committee was appointed by the prime minister to verify complaints against some members of the Electoral Commissions of both regional and federal levels to ensure transparency in the coming elections, a move that divided the council of the presidential candidates.

In a statement, the council of the presidential candidates demanded from the commission to openly and independently present the procedures used for vetting the members of the electoral commissions.

Delays on completing the electoral commission could be a setback for the Historic electoral agreement and analysts believe that resolving the issues of the electoral commissions is key to transparent elections and will further safe the country into plunging into crisis.

Recently, the intelligence chief, Fahad Yasin along with the Villa Somalia’s Chief of staff Abdinur Mohamed were accused for press and human rights violations in a complaint submitted by Mustaqbal Media to the office of Somalia’s attorney general.

On the other hand, Somalia’s Benadiri community has last week accused of Somalia’s minister of petroleum Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed and his clan comrade Abdullahi Sheekhey Baa-Hassan of attempting to loot new parliamentary seats from the minority community. The Benadiri community called for the Somalia prime minister Mohamed Husssein Roble to return their stolen 2016 parliamentary seat to their rightful owners in Mogadishu.