MOGADISHU— In a shocking revelation, Djibouti’s autocratic President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, is facing intense criticism for paying a staggering sum of $500,000 in bribery money to commission a documentary aimed at whitewashing his tarnished public image, Somali officials told the Horn Examiner on Friday.
The funds funneled through the Somali Government, is to be used to bribe journalists, social media influencers and bloggers to broadcast the documentary, raising serious concerns about the President’s regime and its consolidation of power through familial connections.
The Villa Somalia Communications team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, has approached Somali private media outlets with an offer to broadcast their documentary. As part of the agreement, they are offering a monetary compensation ranging from $6,000 to $10,000 in exchange for airing the documentary.
The sources, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, said that the Djibouti regime used a secret network of intermediaries and offshore accounts to conceal the origin and destination of the bribe money.
The scandal came to light following a recent exposé by the Horn Examiner, which delved deep into the inner workings of Guelleh’s authoritarian regime which maintained his iron grip on power within Djibouti through familial ties.
According to sources privy with the matter, Guelleh, 76, was keen on using the documentary as a propaganda tool to divert attention from these pressing issues and create a more positive narrative surrounding his presidency.
The supposed documentary, aimed at improving his public image and sway public opinion in his favor of President Guelleh, despite a long history of accusations of human rights violations and corruption by his regime.
Djibouti, a small country strategically located in the Horn of Africa, has long been scrutinized for its human rights record and lack of press freedom.
President Guelleh, who has been in power for three decades, has faced criticism in the past for alleged human rights abuses and suppression of political opposition.
The latest revelations add fuel to the fire of discontent among those advocating for a more open and accountable government.
The Horn Examiner reached out to representatives of the Djibouti Government for comment, but they have not responded as of the time of this publication.
This scandal marks a significant blow to Djibouti’s reputation on the global stage and raises questions about the lengths some leaders may go to maintain their grip on power
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