As early as midnight Tuesday, voters had started making their way to the polling stations hours before the start of the Somaliland presidential elections.
With a suspension of public and private transport for 24 hours during the polling day, voters had to walk long kilometera to their polling stations which opened 6am Wednesday, November 13, the electoons day. Others opted to sleep on the streets awaiting the sttaions to be opened.
Excited to be voting for their next president, the voters did not hide their preffered candidate.
“‘I want to tell Muse Bihi, you are defeated. Tomorrow, you are gone!’ declared Fadumo Ali, one of Burco’s prominent women, as youthful voters began queuing past midnight on Tuesday, six hours before polling stations were set to open Wednesday morning.
Local journalists started conducting interviews as lines formed well before dawn.
“We are here for change. God willing, tomorrow will be a big day. I’m not going to sleep tonight; I’ll wait here until my polling station opens,” said Abdirahman Muse, a university student.
By 6am, residents were seeing braving the chilly making their way to the voting stations.
There were long queues, with men and women in separate lines. Children aged 16 we’re also allowed to vote.
Burco and Borame can be described as pivotal swing cities in these Somaliland elections, and both the opposition Waddani Party and the ruling Kulmiye Party have focused substantial campaign efforts in these areas.
With visible grievances among locals, clan elders and influential politicians in these towns have openly campaigned for the opposition.
Clan rivalries significantly impact Somaliland’s electoral politics.
According to the Somaliland Independent Electoral Commission, polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
A nationwide curfew has been imposed, allowing only emergency vehicles and those authorized by the electoral body to travel between towns and regions.
Local and international observers are also present, monitoring the polls to ensure transparency and fairness.
all eyes will be on Borame. The past seven years have been terrible for our region,” said MP Abiib, who was detained in August. “Your elders and MPs have spoken. Please come out early and vote for change.”
Meanwhile, the ruling Kulmiye Party is touting President Muse Bihi’s Memorandum of Understanding with Ethiopia early this year for access to the Red Sea, which they claim could lead to Somaliland’s international recognition.
This issue has heightened tensions between Somaliland and the Somali federal government, which still claims Somaliland as part of its territory despite Somaliland’s self-declared independence since 1991.
President Muse Bihi also released a final recorded message, urging voters to re-elect him and his affiliated Hilaac organization.
“Tomorrow’s election is more than a contest; it is a test of Somaliland’s nationhood. Recently, it has reached a violent level,” he said.
Abdirahman Abdullahi Irro, Waddani’s presidential candidate, encouraged voters to make their voices heard on Wednesday.
“I know we are facing many challenges, but I believe you, as voters, have the power to free our country from a seven-year dictatorship,” Irro stated in a televised message.
Wednesday’s vote follows three weeks of intense campaigning, marked by a war of words and accusations between the ruling and opposition parties.
Over 1.2 million registered voters are expected to participate in what is anticipated to be a peaceful election.
Due to manual ballot counting, the electoral commission estimates that official results will be announced about a week after polling concludes.
