MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo met with Qatar’s emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday during an official state visit to Doha, his office said as he seeks further support for his re-election bid from the wealthy Gulf Arab nation.
Farmajo said he had discussed with Qatari emir the “aspects of strengthening brotherly relations and bilateral cooperation between our two brotherly countries” and thanked to Qatar’s government for a “warm reception and hospitality”.
It is not the first time Farmajo has met with bin Hamad, who has been linchpin in his election and attempts to remain in power after his mandate expired in February last year.
Opposition leaders and critics of the incumbent President earlier accused Qatar of bankrolling an alleged gerrymandering of elections by the current administration, an assertion the Gulf Arab nation has denied.
بحثت اليوم مع أخي سمو الأمير @TamimBinHamad أوجه تعزيز علاقات الأخوة والتعاون الثنائي بين بلدينا الشقيقين 🇸🇴 🤝 🇶🇦 بما يعزز روابط الاخوة المتينة والتعاون المثمر بين شعبينا الشقيقين. أشكر لسموه على حفاوة الاستقبال وكرم الضيافة. pic.twitter.com/RSFhiiBO0R
— Mohamed Farmaajo (@M_Farmaajo) March 6, 2022
During ongoing polls, Farmajo has achieved to hand victory to his allies who occupied more than two thirds of the seats of the bicameral parliament. More than $250,000 had been spent on votes for each of the seats which is part of funds earmarked by Qatar, according to officials familiar with the matter.
His visit to Doha and meeting with the Qatari emir come just days before the deadline of parliamentary elections after which MPs will choose a new president.
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