As political tensions in Somaliland continued to escalate over the delayed presidential elections process, President Muse Bihi has stated that the Political Associations registrations will be held ahead of the presidential elections in November 2022 throwing more confusion into the process.
This comes just a day after the main opposition party WADDANI said they will only engage in the process if the presidential elections are held ahead of the political associations registrations.
President Bihi made the controversial comments while addressing the community in Erigavo, Sanaag region.
The president said that in order for the presidential election to take place, it is necessary to hold the election of political parties first and then the presidential election.
But this immediately attracted the ire of WADDANI whise chairman Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan reiterated their earlier position that there will be no other election ahead of the presidential elections slated for this coming November.
The opposition says that the government is not committed to having the presidential elections and the comments of the president proves their position.
“The WADDANI Party’s position unequivocally remains that no other ballot can proceed or predate the 13 November 2022 presidential elections.”
“To encourage a homemade solution, opposition parties have welcomed and given both their consent and mandate to the 31-member committee consisting of traditional elders, religious and business leaders to mediate the current political dispute.”
Opposition parties in Somaliland have previously boycotted the President’s attempts to circumvent the electoral process and extend his term in office, they have called for prodemocracy rally around the country.
