Somaliland Vice President calls on the opposition for peace and get back to the dialogue

As tension remains calm in major towns of Somaliland after opposition parties rallied on the main streets on thursday, causing the death of civilians, the Vice President Abdirahman Saylici asked the opposition to remain calm and show political maturity.

Speaking at an event where the international youth day was celebrated, He underlined that the opposition should not destroy the country for a political seat that will be vacated by President Bihi soon after his term in office comes to an end.

Citing Thursday’s chaos which resulted in the death of civilians and wounded more including police personnel, Vice President Abdirahman Saylici still believes there is room for dialogue and urged the country’s political leaders to get back to the negotiation table and to take collective responsibility for peace, security and the well being of the country.

Somaliland has been mired in political contention in the last few months. The forthcoming elections have become the center of the conflict. Opposition parties want no other ballot to precede the 13th November presidential election while President Bihi insists on the political association election to come first before the presidential election.

Several mediations brokered by elders and the speakers of the parliament ended with no positive results. The opposition blamed Bihi and his administration for the failure of the talks by the opposition parties.