Wednesday 13, Nov, 2024 {HMC} Over one million voters in the self-declared Somaliland region headed to the polls early Wednesday for for presidential and parliamentary elections, drawing attention from local and international stakeholders.
Incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi of the ruling Kulmiye party faces opposition from Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro of the Waddani party and Faisal Ali Warabe of UCID. Bihi, in power since 2017, recently attracted international attention after signing a controversial agreement with Ethiopia to establish a naval corridor in the Red Sea. Somalia condemned the move as an infringement on its sovereignty.
Irro, a former Speaker of the House, has campaigned on unity and security, vowing to reassess Somaliland’s relationship with Somalia if it aligns with Somaliland’s interests. Warabe, a longstanding figure in Somaliland politics, continues to champion international recognition for Somaliland’s independence, an aspiration central to his UCID party’s agenda.
Polling stations opened at 6:30 a.m. local time, with lines forming even before dawn. The Election Commission implemented biometric eye-scanning technology at select locations to enhance identity verification and curb fraud, marking a technological first in the region.
Source Hiiraan Online
