Khaire visits Djibouti months after ouster as Somali PM

DJIBOUTI - Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has intensified has shuttle "diplomatic" activities months after his ouster, in a move seen as a strategic campaign outing, ahead of the country's much anticipated 2021 presidential elections, which he has declared interests in.

Khaire was received at the presidential palace by President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Monday with reports indicating that both sides have discussed a range of issues, including the upcoming elections in Somalia.

On Sunday, the former Oil executive visited Djibouti after a short stint in Mogadishu, where he officially declared his presidential ambitions. Details of his trip to Djibouti remain fairly scanty but he is a close ally of Guelleh, who was key in various regional integration meetings during Khaire's tenure.

Before his exit from the senior post in Somalia's unpredictable politics, Khaire worked closely with Guelleh in organizing the reconciliation meeting with Somaliland, a region which has been pushing for international recognition, three decades after seceding from Somalia.

To date, both parties are yet to make progress and are on record for maintaining their tough stance on the future of their regions. It's not clear if Khaire's trip has anything to do with the pending business of the controversy between Somaliland and Somalia.

However, for the last four months, Khaire has intensified has campaigned and has been using Nairobi as his strategic planning center, where he's mobilizing for both resources and networks.

Multiple sources revealed to Garowe Online that presidential candidates have massive investments in Nairobi, Kenya, where they are also believed to be disposing of their property for campaigns.

Somalia's stakeholders released a tentative electoral calendar last week which is expected to run for three months. In November, official campaigns will start followed by the election of senators and MPs in December and the presidential polls will be held in February 2021.

Besides President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, the race will likely involve Wadajir party leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsane and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. But Khaire, who parted ways with Farmajo, is the surprise candidate, but his strained relationship with stakeholders could blow up his plans according to analysts.

But Somalia's politics are deeply entrenched in the claim, which defines voting. Besides clans, the candidates use millions of dollars to influence the outcome and it's believed that many foreign countries also chip in to aid their preferred candidates for their own selfish interests.

GAROWE ONLINE