Waddani party leader calls for demos against Somaliland president Muse Bihi

GOOBJOOG NEWS|HARGEISA: Waddani party leader Abdirahman Irro has appealed to opposition supporters in Somaliland to turn up for demonstrations against what he termed as attempts by President Muse Bihi to delay the exercise slated for November.

Irro said Bihi was responsible for ‘challenges’ facing the break-away region and called for demonstrations against his administration adding that the Somaliland leader was intent on interfering with the elections.

“We are calling on the supporters of the opposition parties to prepare widely and plan for the resumption of the peaceful demonstrations or peaceful protests that we have suspended in the past which will be held in all the regions and districts of the Republic of Somaliland,” said Irro.

A recent meeting which brought together Waddani, UCID and the ruling party Kulmiye failed to reach a consensus on the modalities for the presidential election. Somaliland is expected to elect a new president on November 13 when the term of the current leader lapses. Bihi was elected President for the first time on November 13, 2017.

The break-away region held parliamentary and local government elections last May after several delays. Before the May 31, 2021 elections, Somaliland had not had such elections since 2005.

A committee was formed in June aimed at resolving the electoral stalemates and called on the opposition to suspend elections but did not also find a solution.