UN monitors spotlight Vote-Buying, manipulation by Somalia President

MOGADISHU, Somalia, October 22, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Despite territorial gains by Somali National Army alongside Africa Union peacekeepers, Federal Government of Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is again under spotlight in United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea report.

Since his election as President, change is quite visible; however corruption continues to engulf Mogadishu-based federal institutions, including the often-fickle 275-seat-chamber of parliament, which has already voted two prime ministers having falling out with Mohamud out of office in two years.

The magnitude of corruption impeding state-building process was well demonstrated by culture of vote buying in the key body and persistent political manipulation of influential faction ‘Damul Jadid’, to which Somalia President belongs.

Though, the 7-member panel of UN investigators recognized sweeping financial reforms by Mohamud as ‘welcome first step’, there is a long way to go in making financial institutions ‘reliable and theft-free’.

“The lack of effective civilian oversight over the budget of Somali National Army has enabled opportunities for systematic misappropriation, including of soldiers’ wages,” experts said in the confidential report.

Without mentioning by name, UN Monitoring Group pointed finger of blame at spoiler networks trying to undermine gains.

There has been extensive abuse of voting privileges, apparently practiced by functionaries close to Somalia president, whose three-year presidency has been marred by pervasive misappropriations and uptick in attacks by terrorists.

“When important motions are tabled in parliament, particularly votes of no confidence against a sitting Prime Minister, significant numbers of Members of Parliament will sell their vote to the highest bidder”.

Taking a jab at President Mohamud, the Monitoring Group unveiled that a network of brokers, mainly associated with Mohamud emerged to woo lawmakers with cash after the end of transitional period. Two political religious groups-Damul Jadid of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ala Sheikh of allegedly former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed- for long engaged in political scuffle, even in recent Galmudug Presidential Elections.

Manipulating state-formation process

In July 2014, Abdikarin Hussein Gulled, one of President Hassan’s right hand men defeated Ala Sheikh’s Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, following selection and election process marred by widespread vote buying.

“The Damul Jadid political association close to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud invested heavily-financially and politically-in the appointment of its member, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, as President of the IGA,” the report further spotlighted.

At the onset of political campaign, Gulled secured considerable advantage, leaving any other political foe-except for his closest rival Fiqi- in the race for presidency impotent.

Read the UN report in full here

GAROWE ONLINE