Hashi faction say will boycott leadership vote today

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Four members of the Somaliland interim elections board said Friday evening they will be boycotting this morning’s (Saturday) election of the board’s leadership in what could further escalate an already troubled process.

The four, Suleiman Aidid Osman, Abdishakur Abib Hayir, Jama Omar Ali and Mohamed Ali Abdullahi from the Abdi Hashi faction accused Prime Minister Mohamed Roble of partisan interests in the interim body, a claim earlier made by Hashi.

The Federal Indirect Elections team (FIET) had earlier announced the 11 member State Indirect Elections Team (SIET) will be meeting at the Airforce hangar in Afisyoni, Mogadishu to elect new leadership.

“The election of the Chairman of the Board of Elections for the bicameral election in Somaliland will be held at the Aficioni Tent, Saturday 10:00 Am, which falls on 7-Aug-2021,” FIET said in a statement Friday.

READ ALSO: Row between Guled, Hashi persist as they pick separate poll leaders

Speaker Hashi ‘very angry’, sharply differs with PM Roble over Somaliland question

Hashi seeks UN, AU intervention in row over Somaliland poll committee

This followed the dissolution of the previous two-faction leadership elected by Hashi’s side and that of deputy prime minister Mahdi Guled.

Earlier on Friday, Hashi accused PM Roble of ‘intimidating’ him and his side noting he (the PM) called a section of the Hashi faction and threatened they will be removed unless they attend today’s meeting.

“The prime minister called the four members I nominated said, “I (PM Roble) am responsible for the election. You must go to the polls, and if you do not vote, I will remove you. That is a threat by the PM, and it cannot be taken lightly,” said Hashi.