Somalia: Somaliland Presidential Candidates hold final rallies

HARGEISA, Somalia - With 3 days to go until Somalilanders go to the polls, the Presidential candidates have separately held their final rallies in Hargeisa city, ahead of Monday's vote, Garowe Online reports.

Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi "Irro", WADDANI'S flag bearer delivered a speech to hundreds of his supporters attended the rally in central Hargeisa, the administrative capital of Somaliland on Friday.

Irro said during his address to the crowd that Somaliland is currently facing major challenges, including Political, Economic and Social Crises that he personally witnessed during this elections campaigns.

WADDANI candidate has accused the ruling KULMIYE party of incompetence and failing to deal with the corruption, unemployment, high inflation, recurring droughts and nepotism during its ending tenure.

"KULMIYE put fuel on a fire" and made the problems worse than previous instead of fixing the current challenges that Somaliland is facing at the moment," said Irro while speaking to his supporters.

Continuing, Irro added that the people want a change of KULMIYE leadership as the ruling party has nominated Muse Bihi Abdi to run for Presidency and lead the self-declared state in the next five years.

He has distanced himself from rival parties accusations of receiving millions of dollars to reunite Somaliland with the great Somalia and sending a letter to UN's envoy to the country Michael Keating, calling to arrest incumbent and Muse Bihi.

The aspirants for the three political parties had been blamed for making nasty campaign speeches and voter ID buying that the state Electoral Commision said could jeopardize Somaliland's reputation and stability.

Muse Bihi Abdi of Kulmiye, Abdirahman Irro from Waddani and Feysal Alii Warabe of UCID are vying for the Presidency. The schools, Universities and other educational centers were closed ahead of the polls.

The outgoing president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo" who has been in power since July 2010 will not seek re-election as president of Somaliland in the forthcoming election slated for Nov 13, 2017.

GAROWE ONLINE