Somaliland Opposition Held Massive Rallies Across The Country

Somaliland Opposition Held Massive Rallies Across The Country

HARGEISA, Somaliland (Somaliland Globe)- Hundreds of thousands of Somalilanders have held massive electoral rallies today in the main townships and cities throughout Somaliland less than one-and-a-half month before the presidential election scheduled to take place in the country on 27 September.
The massive rallies, which took place in Hargeisa, Berbera, Burao, Erigavo, Las Anod and Borama, were meant to send a ?loud and unambiguous signal? to Rayale?s government that the Somaliland people demand ?a free a fair election based on the voter registration list? which is standard for international elections.
Contrary to the Somaliland Electoral Law and against the advice of the two Houses of Somaliland?s parliament, president Rayale adamantly wants to hold the forthcoming presidential election in September ?without voter registration list?.
?We stand in solidarity with our supporters to demand a free and fair election to take place in this country [on 27 September],? said, Musa Bihi, the deputy chairman of the main opposition party, KULMIYE. ?If however Rayale fails to hold the election by 29 September, he will no longer remain as president in Somaliland whatever the cost,? added Bihi.
The biggest rally which was held in central Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland, was meant to take place in the Independence Park. The interior minister initially gave the permission for the rally to go ahead but issued a press statement late last night in which he retracted the permission for the rally to be held in the Independence Park. Despite this, the two main opposition parties, KULMIYE and UCID went ahead to hold their rallies across the country.
Demonstrators carried Somaliland flags as well as party flags. Some held placards that read: ?Down with Rayale? and ?fair and free elections now?.
Thousands of Somaliland police in riot gear and armored vehicles were positioned in pre-designated areas throughout the capital city to deal with any disturbances that might arise in what was seen as the biggest opposition rally ever, in the history of this as-yet-to-be recognized embryonic state. The demonstrators were from every layer of society.
Government ministers were stunned by the size of the opposition rallies. Motorists honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn?t honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the massive crowd that was rapidly growing by the minute even though high school children were barred from attending the rallies.
The dusty streets of Hargeisa were alive with cars honking in a rhythmic pattern, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high.
?This is a massive show of force by the people and the government should listen to peoples? demands,? Faisal Ali Warabe, the leader of UCID party told the BBC radio. ?From now onwards we will switch from a mode of non-action to a mode of action,? added Warabe.
The rallies coincided at a time an Ethiopian delegation was visiting the country to deliver a message to president Rayale that his unreasonable stand might jeopardize the peace and stability of Somaliland in an already turbulent region characterized by ethnic and religious tensions.
Somaliland Globe