Somalia: Fahad Yasin's election as MP "rejected" by FEIT amid Farmajo-Roble fallout

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The victory recorded by former National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] Director Fahad Yasin has been rejected by the electoral commission, which could further raise questions about the integrity of the entire exercise.

For months, Somalia's opposition has alleged fraud in the ongoing exercise, noting that the outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has been imposing his close allies on the people for the purpose of winning upcoming presidential elections.

On Sunday, Yasin competed in the HoP86 seat where he cruised to victory but his win has seemingly been rejected by the Federal Electoral Implementation Committee [FEIT], which had earlier on suspended the contest following complaints from elders.

In a Facebook post, the commission published results of five seats in Hirshabelle but excluded Yasin's victory, further showing that it had canceled the election. The exercise took place in Beledweyne town in Hirshabelle on Sunday, moments after a bomb blast that killed over 13 people.

“The Federal Electoral Commission [FEIT] has not changed its decision to suspend HOP086, so the results of today's [Sunday] action are invalid," the commission said in a statement. The commission had said last week that the page was hacked.

The commission is said to be split on the seat and their differences led to claims that the Facebook account was confiscated recently. There are reports that PM Roble's office was running FEIT's social media sites, as it is against Fahad Yasin's move to join the new parliament, which could pave the way for Farmaajo's re-election.

Yasin's election as MP comes amid differences between outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble whose relations cut off after Yasin was kicked out of NISA leadership last year over the disappearance of Ikran Tahlil, a senior female spy agent.

After his dismissal, Farmaajo re-absorbed him to Villa Somalia as his security advisor to save him from being prosecuted for Tahlil's murder.

In his victory speech, Yasin, who has been working as Farmaajo's advisor, asked Somalis to have patience in the indirect polls. The exercise is set to be concluded on Feb 25 following a deal signed by various stakeholders.

"Have patience with the indirect election," he told the candidates vying for Lower House seats amid electoral fraud and manipulation in Lower House vote, which also saw his successor Abdullahi Farey and Human Resource Director at NISA Abdullahi Kulane Jiis elected to serve as MPs.

Yasin, who is linked to Ikran Tahlil's murder in 2021 won the HoP86 seat after beating a rival candidate [Malhis] Ahmed Dayid by 70/24 votes. He is the latest ex and current NISA official joins the next parliament to get immunity from prosecution after being accused of 'serious crimes'.

Fahad Yasin Haji Dahir, now goes with a new name - Fahad Dahir Ahmed used in his passport, which is described as a new face for his new political page after coming out of five-year hiding from the public appearance and media during Farmaajo's presidency.

GAROWE ONLINE