02 November 2021 – Liban Hassan
Candidates that are running in the presidential election this year in Somalia are facing a dire financial situation.
In The last two elections in Somalia, candidates have received significant funding from Gulf States. With financial backing Gulf states were seeking to have a substantial influence in the elected administration. This was particularly true with respect to Qatar and the UAE.
Several candidates have confirmed that, so far no presidential candidate has received any funding from an Gulf country, including the incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
Some promising candidates have made several secret and some publicized trips to countries that are expected to contribute to campaign funds for Somalia’s 2021 elections, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Egyptian government acts a interlocutors for candidates and Gulf States . Kenya for its part has confirmed that it has engaged several candidates.
“So far no candidate has received any funding this year, it is possible that nothing has thus been received from the Arab countries to compete against local funding,” said one of Somalia’s presidential candidates.
In the event of a domestic funding in the election campaign, local businesses will have a better chance of gaining a major influence in the incoming government.
Some tribes may also start raising money quickly to field a candidate, as without Arab funding they will run out of money for the election.
Some candidates have fled the country, refusing to be identified due to financial constraints. Some are said to have dropped out of the race due to financial constraints, but are refusing to be formally identified, while others are still working on receiving loans from local traders.
It has been confirm to us by two candidates that some candidates are currently actively pursuing loans, including ones who have in the past received funding as well those who are now seeking to borrow from local businesses, to secure funding for the election campaign.
Concerns that the Arabs are not willing to fund campaigns in this year election or that that they are limiting the number of campaigns it will providing funding for are very strong. Some candidates have shut down their campaign due to financial difficulties.
What has caused Arab states to change their stance on campaign funding?
1- Uncertainty of the election
Somalia’s election timetable has been delayed several times with key deadlines being missed Arab states that usually fund election campaigns in Somalia are question the reliability of the election process in Somalia.
2- Elections and the United States
The United States has putting pressure of gulf states to stop funding election campaigns in Somalia.
The Biden administration is keeping a close eye on funds that are corrupting and destroying the integrity of Somalia’s elections. Gulf states have been warned to stop this practice.
It is possible that this will have a significant financial impact on campaigns as this is reducing the amount of funding available for election campaigns. Gulf states could try and fund campaigns covertly using indirect means to fund their preferred candidate.
3- The 2016 election and the Farmajo era
Some Gulf states are frustrated with the way money was managed during the 2016 elections, it was alleged that funds were misappropriated by private individuals.
There are also allegations of money laundering during President Farmajo’s administration, some of which went to the government and some to the opposition to overthrow Farmajo, funds which have not been properly managed. All of these things caused concern for gulf donors.
If fund is not forthcoming from the Gulf States, the funding will be concentrated locally and limited to candidates who can be trusted by Somali businessmen or clans.