Tuesday February 15, 2022
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia's Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has reportedly asked the Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT) to postpone the election for the hotly contested HOP86 seat between Fahad Yasin, Farmajo’s National Security Adviser and former spy chief, and former Minister of Justice Farah Sheikh Abdikadir. The latter is reportedly on medical leave abroad.
According to BBC Somali Service, members of the FEIT, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak, said Prime Minister Roble had demanded that HOP 086 be postponed but did not share the reason with the electoral commission.
Opposition candidates say that Villa Somalia has committed significant resources to ensure that Fahad Yassin, arguably the President’s s closest ally, to win the election.
Relations between Prime Minister Roble and Fahad Yassin had soured since September 6, 2021, when Fahad Yassin was suspended from NISA due to the Ikraan Tahliil case. Despite his alleged involvement, President Farmajo appointed National Security Adviser just a day later, sparking a political impasse within Somalia’s National executive.
HOP 086 is one of the 13 seats to be held in Beledweyne in the coming days.
Several Fahad Yasin underlings at Somalia’s spy agency have already secured their seats as federal MPs. Abdullahi Kulane 'Jiis' and acting NISA chief Yasin Farey have both been elected as MPs in Galmudug. Farah Abdi Dini, an agent attached to NISA’s port division was also elected to parliament on Monday.