Somalia presidential campaigns shift to Nairobi ahead of major showdown

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NAIROBI, Kenya - Presidential elections slated for February 2021 seems to have shifted to Nairobi as leading candidates plot to defeat President Farmajo, whose tenure has been rocked with huge divisions within and outside government, with international partners also raising concerns over alleged abuse of human rights.

The country's leadership agreed to hold elections from December this year after a protracted tussle over the model of elections among other contentious issues, which were settled following months of squabbles between President Mohamed Abdullahi and top opposition and regional leaders.

Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire returned to Nairobi on Thursday night after a brief stint in Djibouti, where he met President Omar Ismael Guelleh. The former PM announced his presidential candidature in September, almost two months after his unceremonious ouster by MPs.

Before flying to Djibouti, spent most of his time in Nairobi, which is believed to be presidential campaign headquarters for his planned contest. Upon arrival on Thursday, he was ushered in by dozens of his team in Nairobi at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, before being driven away to a city hotel.

In his Nairobi visit, Khaire is expected to hold talks with Somali politicians who are currently in Nairobi in a bid to gain their support for his candidacy in the upcoming election. The politicians have been holed up in the Kenyan for the last several days after sealing a deal for the electoral contest.

Some of the political heavyweights currently present in Nairobi include Jubbaland state President Ahmed Islam Mohamed alias Madobe and his Puntland counterpart, Said Abdullahi Deni. The two leaders were integral in the signing of the electoral deal.

Besides Khaire, the presidential race will also feature Wadajir leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, a perennial critic of Farmajo. Also in the race is former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who has blessings from his successor Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, after forming a joint coalition dubbed The Forum for National Parties.

Analysts believe that a flurry of activities will take place in Nairobi for the next couple of months, with politicians using the city as the center of their campaigns. Previously, the opposition used to hold such campaigns in Dubai, where they have a strong backup.

"Nairobi has overtaken Dubai as the campaign hub of Somalia. This is where the action is happening," Rashid Abdi, a political commentator said. "Candidates in Somalia's presidential elections selling off their Kenyan property to raise money for the campaigns. Businesses also busy raising cash for their candidates."

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.

Khaire, who parted ways with Farmajo, is the surprise candidate, but his strained relationship with stakeholders could blow up his plans according to analysts. The former PM is, however, a key mobilizer of early elections, something which rocked his relationship with Farmajo.

GAROWE ONLINE

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