Opposition party WADDANI presidential candidate Abdirahman Irro has survived what he has termed an assassination attempt at him when police attacked his convoy in the streets of Somaliland capital Hargeisa on Thursday.
Irro had organised a rally in the capital to push the government to hold presidential elections as per the constitution in November when armed police attacked his team.
Armed police and Irro’s security engaged in an exchange that saw the officers give in.
Over ten opposition activists are said to have been injured as they engaged in protests.
The Somaliland Police Force is partly funded and trained by the UK government, in an effort to fight extremism in the Horn of Africa.
However, these forces are regularly used for politically motivated attacks against the opposition and innocent civilians, according to civil rights activist.