MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Qatar airlifted cash-filled suitcases to Somalia on Thursday last week, an intelligence officer at Adan Adde Airport said, in last-ditch attempt to influence the ongoing parliamentary elections as the Horn of Africa country’s embattled president gears up for re-election bid.
A number of cash-filled suitcases and hand-luggage bags aboard a charter flight from Qatar’s capital, Doha arrived at Adan Adde International Airport, a spy official, who urged not to be named for fear of being identified, told Somaliguardian on Wednesday.
A senior opposition figure also claimed that Qatar is due to fly more suitcases of dollars to help president Farmajo win the upcoming presidential vote.
Somalia’s federal government has not immediately commented on the reports of the airlift which come as opposition leaders face uncertainty due to lack of funds.
A regional political and security analyst Rashid Abdi said on Wednesday that seven suitcases of dollars from Qatar were flied in the Horn of Africa nation on October 28, in which Somali president’s security advisor Fahad Yasin and three other officials were couriers.
The funds were meant to be used to “influence parliamentary process” and “support Farmajo”, he added.
In comments on the reports, the leader of Wadajir opposition party Abdirahman Abdishakur – a key Farmajo critic – said Qatar has supported Farmajo and his current security advisor Fahad Yasin with cash money that “didn’t come through government accounts” and claimed that the money was “used to destroy Somalia”.
He continued to add that Somalis deserve apology from Qatar, accusing the Gulf country of choosing Farmajo over Somalia.
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