Somalia President travels to Qatar to have talks with the Emir

Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has traveled to Qatar on Saturday to meet with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha.

According to the Qatari news agency, the two leaders will be discussing issues of common interest. However, the two administrations have not yet disclosed details of the meetings agenda.

Opposition candidates have fears that the President is accumulating money to meddle with the ongoing elections as he is a close ally with the Qatar government, an accusation Farmajo’s administration had denied.

Qatari money is widely credited to have tipped the scales in Farmajo’s surprise presidential victory in 2017 against his predecessor Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Former National Security Director Fahad Yasin worked as Farmajo’s campaign manager and is said to have brokered the connection with Doha.

President Farmajo last traveled to Doha to meet with the emir in late November.