The United States and the head of British House in Hargeisa have raised the alarm over today’s prodemocracy protests in which scores of people have died in Somaliland.
The U.S. Embassy in Somalia said it “strongly” urged Somaliland’s ruling and opposition leaders to avoid violence in demonstrations and “return quickly to political dialogue.”
It warned that a failure to agree on the election threatens Somaliland’s “achievements in democratic governance.
The country wide protest is the result from an impasse over the presidential election between the opposition and the government.
Demonstrations that resulted in unknown number of civilian deaths and injuries took place today in Somaliland, where the army opened fire on pro-opposition demonstrators.
“We strongly urge the ruling and opposition leaders in #Somaliland to avoid violence during the demonstrations and return quickly to political dialogue. Failure to reach agreement on elections threatens Somaliland’s achievements in democratic governance.” Tweeted the US Embassy in Somali
”The head of the British Office in Hargeisa, Lizzie Walker, also urged peace and dialogue.
She added: “We re-emphasize the importance of Somaliland’s leaders engaging in constructive dialogue to reach consensus on a roadmap for elections to protect Somaliland’s peace, stability and democracy”.
