Somaliland President promises tougher actions to keep peace and unity of the nation

The President of Somaliland promised tougher actions against everyone who violates the law and disrupts the peace and the unity of the nation.

President Muse Bihi Abdi seemed to endorse the detention of the Lawmaker Mohamed Ahmed Dhakool saying the law is above all, and everyone must be held accountable. The president without mentioning the lawmakers’name, reiterated the charges against him.

On Sunday afternoon, Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi hosted the religious leaders of the nation for an elaborate iftar and dinner banquet.

Clad in thobe (Khamis) and Somali Kofia, the president was dressed for the occasion.

His speech, however, covered many topics which are of national interest.

In his short remarks at the end, President Bihi said he accepts the call to deal with an iron fist with those who disrupt the peace in the country.

“Ranks and titles do not matter,” the president said. In fact, the higher the rank of the perpetrator, the more heinous the crime is. Many observers have taken that the ranking official seems to be the lawmaker Mohamed Ahmed Dhakool.

“No matter the title and rank they hold, they must be held accountable, ” President Bihi said, adding that “And if a member parliament is destroying the nation, he must be held accountable”.

The president tough remarks came just hours after the permanent committee of the House of Representatives called the detention of MP
Mohamed Ahmed Dhakool “an illegal action”. The committee confirmed that they have rejected a request from the government to strip the lawmaker of his legal protections.

A day earlier, on Saturday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bashe Mohamed Farah criticized the detention of Dhakool and said the Police arrested the MP without following the due process. He further complained that he was barred from visiting the MP in detention.

Mohamed Ahmed Dhakool who is elected from Sool region in eastern Somaliland opposed the 18th May commemoration calling it a day that it belongs to only one faction of Somaliland society. Mr. Dhakool argued that 26 June should be regarded as the independence day for Somaliland, instead of 18th May.