Somaliland leader, opposition discuss speeding up voter registration

HARGEISA, Somalia, December 30, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Somaliland’s ruling Kulmiye party and opposition bloc have discussed voter registration for eligible persons across the breakaway region after months of political turmoil on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Marred by intra-party disputes and mass resignation, Somaliland’s political parties are preparing for decisive poll at the beginning of 2017.

According to ruling party leader and presidential candidate Musse Bihi Abdi, voter registration process will kick off in Burao, Somaliland’s second largest city in January.

In attendance at the meeting held under the chairmanship of President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Siilaanyo) were Electoral Commission chairman Abdulkadir Iman Warsame and Wadani and Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) representatives.

“We discussed with national parties and the government led by the president readiness of political parties for registration of voters in the first two weeks of 2016,” Warsame told reporters shortly after the meeting.

Voter awareness campaigns will embark on soon, he added.

Ruling Kulmiye party leader Abdi applauded electoral board for its steadfastness on the eve of registration.

Kulmiye had until recently been in crisis after a roster of cabinet members including President’s right hand man and State Minister for President Hirsi Ali Haji  ditched posts in mass resignation.

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

GAROWE ONLINE