Somalia: Is Qatar planning to fund Farmaajo's re-election bid?

DOHA, Qatar - On Saturday, outgoing Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo arrived in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where he's scheduled to hold a meeting with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and top government officials on Sunday.

The outgoing president will stay in the "sisterly" Gulf nation for two days before returning to the country, where he's facing re-election debacles. Farmaajo is battling to defend his seat in an election projected to be held this year.

In a tweet, Villa Somalia said Farmaajo will focus on boosting bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that he will also meet Qatar's Emir for a series of meetings aimed at promoting Somalia's ties with Qatar.

"Farmaajo will discuss with Emir Tamim bin Hamad bilateral relations between the two countries and the way to enhance them. In addition to a number of issues of common interests," reads the tweet from Villa Somalia

But the trip reignites dark memories of the past where Qatari money allegedly played a decisive role in influencing the outcomes of both the 2012 and 2017 elections. In both elections, the country's preferred candidates went on to win the election.

Most of the wider public conceptualizes Farmaajo's departure to Doha as a trip aimed at raising funds for his bid to run for the reelection of the presidency, according to the sources. Qatar is the biggest ally of Farmaajo and sponsored his previous 2016-2017 presidential campaigns.

Throughout his term in office, Farmaajo has been under persistent criticism along with former spy chief Fahad Yasin over their alleged "unholy alliance" with Qatar. The Gulf nation is believed to have been sponsoring chaos against the opposition.

So severe has been the allegations to the extent that Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble was forced to ax Yasin, who was immediately appointed as Security Advisor to Farmaajo. Last month, Yasin was declared an MP-elect in Beledweyne after an election.

Farmaajo's trip comes amid ongoing Lower House elections, with slightly some 200 MPs now elected. The MPs and senators will participate in the next presidential polls which Farmaajo is running against candidates, including former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh.

While it's not clear if Farmaajo will be soliciting money from Qatar, he has been working closely with the Gulf nation.

Having served the dictatorial regime that ruled Somalia with an iron fist between 1969-1990, Farmaajo was dubbed by his critics as a sympathizer of a centralized system and spearheaded several attempts in dismantling the federal system in Somalia during his 4-year mandate at the office.

GAROWE ONLINE