Somaliland Main opposition party calls on mass protests if Bihi fails to hold election on time

The leaders of Somaliland’s main opposition party have called on mass protests if President Muse Bihi fails to hold the Presidential election on 13 November this year. They accused him of attempting to seek ways to delay the election.

The Presidential candidate of Waddani party Abdirahman Irro noted if President Bihi does not respect the country’s constitution, he would face prosecution and impeachment for breaching the law. Abdirahman Irro said if the election does not take place on its scheduled time he will lead the public in a mass protests against Bihi’s administration.

The Chairman of the party, Hirsi Hajji Hassan, said that time will prove if they truly mean what they are telling the public or whether they are making false threats if the government refuses to hold the Presidential election on time. He called on his supporters to respond to the party’s call for mass protests.

Addressing the election issues in his state of the nation address on Monday, Somaliland President noted the licenses of the current political parties will expire in December, while the Presidential election will take place in November and the election of the new political associations is controversially expected this year.

He said the country is facing a new challenge of holding the two elections within a short time. He advised stakeholders to engage in national consultation on this matter to find solutions as the two elections are mandatory.