Somalia: Cross-party Somaliland row turns personal

HARGEISA, Somalia-Somaliland opposition leaders are engaged in what appears to be a personal wrangle after Wadani and Justice and Welfare parties clashed on voter registration exercise region-wide, Garowe Online reports. 

Wadani wrote to National Electoral Commission (NEC) in protest at threats allegedly leveled against its leader and parliament speaker Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro). 

The complaint letter called for the electoral board to take note of shooting threats by outspoken UCID leader, Faysal Ali Warabe.  

Wadani party is also seeking that Warabe be held responsible for his remarks by security agencies.  

Reacting to the complaints lodged with Election Commission, UCID Chairman said, he is furious at lack of rule of law:

“Irro is the man who gave his deputy punches, he threated Regional Coordination Affairs Minister with shooting in the head during Awdal voter registration exercise, we sat down yesterday there, I openly said, I may shoot at you and your retinues if rule of law fails, this is when there’s no law and order.” 

The heated exchange between the two men reportedly occurred in the headquarters of Somaliland Electoral Commission.  

Following resolution to intra-party disputes within ruling Kulmiye party, Somaliland is scheduled for tough parliamentary and presidential polls in early 2017. 

Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as a de facto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet.

GAROWEONLINE