Somalia: What next for Ex-Spy chief Fahad Yasin?

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The predicaments of former spy chief Fahad Yasin took a new twist on Monday following the suspension of his victory having been announced by the HirShabelle regional electoral commission SEIT as the winner of the controversial HoP86 seat in Hirshabelle.

Yasin, who has been at the center stage of the rivalry between outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, hailed his victory as a "manifestation that indirect polls are working in Somalia".

He arrived at Beletwyene on Sunday before getting clearance hurriedly and subsequently, winning the disputed elections. Yasin was to join fellow spies Abdullahi Farey [current acting NISA chief] and Kulane Jiis who have since been elected.

The Federal Electoral Implementation Committee [FEIT] Chairperson Muse Gelle insisted that the outcome of HoP86 had been suspended despite the fact that state media reported that the election was nullified following complaints by elders.

For months, the opposition has accused Farmaajo of stage-managing elections in favor of his lieutenants ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. The outgoing president is facing stiff competition from among others, former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud along with former PM Hassan Ali Khaire.

Unconfirmed reports implied that a secret meeting between Ex-spy chief, Fahad Yasin, and members of the federal electoral body bore no fruit following the commission's decision to nullify Fahad's victory as the winner of the HoP086 seat. FEIT had ruled the postponement of the seat.

Last year, PM Roble dismissed Yasin as spy chief last year, leading to a protracted confrontation with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who is a close ally of Yasin. Pushed into submission, Farmaajo went on to appoint him as National Security Advisor.

Interestingly, despite a clause demanding that state officers running for elections ought to resign, it's not clear if Yasin, Farey, and Abdullahi Kulane resigned from their current positions. Yasin is linked to the murder of former NISA cyberspace boss Ikran Tahil.

So divisive was the matter that the PM ordered the suspension of Yasin and his colleagues in the spy agency. The differences have led to a fierce battle between Farmaajo and PM Roble. Their differences have often triggered delays in the current electoral process.

On Monday, Ex-PM Hassan Ali Khaire showered praises on the current premier Mohamed Hussein Roble's efforts in completing the election of parliamentarian seats from Somaliland representatives. Khaire urged other FMS leaders to accelerate the electoral process.

GAROWE ONLINE