Five Takeaways from Abdirahman Irro’s Press Conference

Hargeisa 30.04.2019 (Somaliland.com):- Somaliland main opposition leader, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro (Cirro) has held a press conference in Waddani Party HQ today in HargeisaMr. Abdirahman Irro talked about many important issues concerning current political and socioeconomic conditions of the country.

The news conference was 30 minutes long and half of that the chairman was answering questions from the reporters. Let us summarize the five main talking points:

1.    Election Delay and Challenges

The Waddani chairman called the government to dismiss the current National Election Commission (NEC) and the three parties to form an impartial new Commission of nine members, three members from each party.

” Waddani considers unconstitutional the attempt by the other two parties, Kulmiye and UCID to try and hold national elections in Somaliland without the participation of all the official parties and our representation of half of the population in the country,” the chairman said.

“The president chose to be a president for a portion of the population” he reiterated. He threatened that the remaining population will seek an alternative (Election), but he has not explained more about that alternative.

In concluding the election issues Mr. Irro urged his supporters not to take part any activities of the current NEC oversees including voter registration.

2.    The Killing of two senior security officer near Oog

Dr. Abdirahman Irro sent his condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the two security officers brutally killed on yesterday near Oog district of Saraar region.

He denounced the barbaric act of these gunmen and called the government to act and apprehend the perpetrators. He also blamed the minister of interior and security affairs, Mr. Mohamed Kahin Ahmed for not helping the deceased officers for five days prior to the attack day while there was an apparent death threat to them. He claimed that the minister was busy preparing an unlawful election and that he failed his duties.

Read also: Gunmen Kill Two Senior Security Officers in Saraar Region of Somaliland

3.    Inflation

The Waddani chairman said the country is in dire inflation and the money exchange rate is volatile. He has given examples of the ordinary citizens are currently losing 20 percent of any business transactions. He urged the government to stabilize the exchange rate.

4.    Oppression of Journalists and Activists

Mr. Irro condemned what he called the government’s persistent oppression towards freedom of speech, journalists, media organizations and other activists. He mentioned the publication ban of Foore Newspaper and 15 journalists jailed this year alone.

5.    Waddani’s Conventions

Answering a question about the delay Waddani Party’s General Assembly Convention, Mr. Abdirahman Irro reaffirmed that the party Committee Convention will happen soon, and in that will be decided the date for the General Assembly Convention.

Read also:
Kulmiye, UCID Propose Election Roadmap
Waddani Issues Response To Kulmiye-UCID Election Resolution
Election Challenges Overshadow EU Delegation Meetings in Hargeisa
Somaliland’s Fragile Democracy Faces more Election Delays