Federal polls body posts ‘campaign article’ critical of ex-president

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU:   The controversial Federal Indirect Elections Team (FIET) has found itself in the centre of a storm after a Facebook page linked to its official website carried an article questioning the conduct of former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who is also a candidate in the upcoming polls

The Facebook page, @doorashada2021 which has since been removed was directly linked to FIET’s official website http://doorashada2021.so. Goobjoog News sought clarity from FIET and received a confirmation that indeed the two pages were rightly linked but said it was a ‘technical error’.

The page has since been deleted and replaced with @doorashooyinka2021. FIET did not go further into how the two pages were linked but whether it was an error or not, the appearance of the content critical of a presidential candidate coming from official communication channels of an electoral body waters down the credibility and impartiality of the polls body.

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The development also worsens an already sour relationship between FIET and opposition groups which have demanded its disbandment. Opposition presidential candidates and a section of Federal Member States have accused president Mohamed Farmaajo of packing the FIET with cronies and senior civil servants and intelligence officials.

Following the publication of the article, politicians have weighed in and put to question the impartiality of FIET.

Senate deputy speaker Abshir Ahmed said the FIET had violated article 101 of the Provision Constitution, lost legitimacy and should therefore be disbanded. 

Wadajir party leader and presidential candidate Abdirahman Abdishakur called for the resignation of the polls team citing loss of pubic confidence.

MPs Mahad Salad and Abdirahman Odowaa echoed similar sentiments accusing FIET of being part of Farmaajo’s re-election campaign.