Somaliland Opposition Parties Call for early Presidential Election

SOMALILAND.COM – Somaliland opposition parties call for an early presidential election as the president announced their termination two years before the end of their mandate.

In a joint press conference today, UCID and Waddani parties called for presidential, local and parliamentary elections to be held this year. 

In their joint statement, the two parties accused the president of trying to cement his grip on power and developing a dictatorship by eliminating the political parties – the last check on the president’s powers according to them.

The two parties further alleged that the president Bihi is planning an extension for his term in office by pushing back the elections scheduled for this year. 

Local and parliamentary elections are long overdue, but the president is yet to finish his third year in the office out of a five-year term.

However, The call for cutting the president’s term short is the opposition parties’ response to president Bihi’s announcement of opening the registration of new political parties two years ahead of its schedule. 

That effectively relegates Waddani and UCID to political associations who will compete in an election to qualify for political party status. According to the constitution, Somaliland can only have three political parties at a time. 

The two parties gave the president until March ten to go back on his decision. Otherwise, they say, Muse Bihi will not remain a president. Faysal Ali Warabe said the president will be deposed if he insists on breaking the laws and abolishing the political parties.