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| Africa Horn |
| Wrangle splits Somaliland Ruling Party as President seeks re-election |
| 2014-05-27 |
| HARGEISA, Somalia -- Prominent figures within Somaliland Ruling Party of Kulmiye are at the loggerheads as President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Siilaanyo is seeking re-election ahead of the region's general elections by 2015, Garowe Online reports. The magnitude of the dispute emerged after President Siilaanyo on Saturday sacked his Commerce Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omar by presidential decree-a move related to wrangle over the next candidate for Somaliland presidency. The Chairman of Kulmiye party Musse Bihi Abdi- army veteran who served as air force pilot in Siyad Barre regime in 1970s and the current Somaliland President disagreed on their candidacy, with Musse Bihi Abdi announcing that he would vie for the separatist administration's top political job. Somaliland's Minister of Livestock and Animal Husbandry Dr. Abdi Aw Dahir and close presidential aide Monday disclosed at media briefing in Somaliland capital of Hargeisa that Abdi is in breach of previous deal that was signed by President Siilaanyo and Kulmiye Chairman. Somaliland's Minister of Livestock and Animal Husbandry Abdi Aw Dahir [File] On Sunday, Somaliland President and his Vice President Abdirahman Saylici rebuffed to recognize a line up consisting of members picked for the party's central and executive committees, calling the announcement by Abdi as ‘illegitimate '. Among the nominees placed in the fresh list was the sacked Minister of Commerce Omar who revealed that he was fired over internal dispute. The supporters of Somaliland Ruling party of Kulmiye have taken to streets across Somaliland, chanting opposing slogans in support of Kulmiye factions. Despite stiff resistance from Bihi who expressed displeasure about President Siilaanyo's decision, political analysts tell GO that Siilaanyo will be endorsed for the second time as the sole contestant. Siilaanyo secured strong majority from Hargeisa and Gabiley town in the latest election by defeating UDUB and Justice and Welfare party of UCID. Wadani, a new political party with Somaliland Parliament Speaker Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro at the forefront and UCID are likely to grab the new opportunity, analysts told GO. Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia unilaterally declared its independence from the rest of the country as a defacto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized Internationally yet. |
| Posted by:Steve White |