Hiiraan Online
Friday, May 30, 2014
The officials were arrested for siding with the ruling Kulmiye party leader Muse Bihi who has been challenging the incumbent president of the breakaway region, Ahmed Silanyo.
Reports indicate that the detained officials were attending a political meeting to show support for Mr. Bihi who recently declared his intention to run for Somaliland’s presidency.
The jailed officials were identified as: the governor of Saaxil region, Halac Dhagoole local MP Dahir Aw-Nur and Rashid Aw-Hassan who were taken by police as they gathered at a compound in the city of Ber-Bera to talk to their supporters.
The ruling party leader Muse Bihi Abdi has condemned the arrest calling for their immediate and unconditional release. He said the city has seen rallies in support of the candidacy of the incumbent President, Ahmed Silanyo, adding, “it shows that the people are free to express their support to whoever they wish to be their future president.”
Meanwhile, security forces in the capital Hargeisa have arrested a man for sticking the photo of Mr. Bihi on his car while driving in the city.
However, the political tensions amongst Kulmiye party leaders have been mounting for the past several weeks after both leader, the current president Ahmed Silanyo and the party leader Muse Bihi declared their intention to run for presidency.
Somaliland declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, but since then the region has been lacking international recognition, although it is relatively peaceful in comparison with the other side of the republic.
HOL English News Desk