EU delegation meets with Somaliland president, opposition parties

Somaliland’s main opposition party, Waddani, withheld the nomination of its member to the electoral commission and informed the president in a letter.

The chairman of the party Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi said the party will withhold the nomination until the government rectifies the violations of the nomination process and the agreement of the political parties brokered by the international community.

Waddani alleges the members nominated by the president to the independent electoral body include people affiliated with political parties. The party also objects the renomination of Kaltun Sheikh, a member of the current electoral commission.

Waddani Chariamn Abdirahman Irro reported that he’d met with international community representatives on Saturday and will continue to have meetings with them.

On the other hand, the international community representatives have met with Somaliland president on Sunday morning. President Muse BIhi received at his office the European Union ambassador to Somalia Nicolas Berlanga Martinez and the Swedish ambassador to Somalia Staffan Tillander.

In a brief statement, the Somaliland government said the delegation discussed with the president the upcoming local and parliamentary elections and pledged to support Somaliland with the election process.
Abdirahman Irro speaking to CBATV on Sunday said the party objects the members nominated by president Muse Bihi because it’s a violation of the electoral law and the agreement of the political parties.

President Muse Bihi’s controversial nominees for the electoral body are Kaltun Sheikh Hassan Abdi and Abdirashid Mohamed Ali. the former is a member of the current National Electoral Commission while the later is alleged to be affiliated with the Kulmiye party.