Somaliland’s Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Saylici has endorsed the opposition Waddani Party in the upcoming November 13 presidential election, calling for support toward “change-seeking” groups. His backing of Waddani’s candidate, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, signals significant political tension with incumbent President Muse Bihi’s administration. Campaigns have intensified across the region, with towns showcasing party colors, as Bihi’s Kulmiye Party and opposition forces vie for influence. The election, held under Somaliland’s unique democratic framework, has drawn regional interest, with voters aspiring for peaceful, globally recognized democracy.
In a move that has heightened Somaliland’s political atmosphere, Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Saylici endorsed the opposition Waddani Party, urging citizens to back “change-seeking” groups in the November 13 election. After serving over 14 years in office, Saylici openly criticized President Muse Bihi’s administration at a press conference in Hargeisa, joining Waddani’s candidate, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, in calling for reform. This endorsement has bolstered Irro’s campaign, gaining traction with notable figures, business leaders, and the general public rallying behind the opposition.
Saylici also voiced support for Barwaqo, a political organization from the Awdal region, standing against Hilaac, an ally of the ruling Kulmiye Party. With campaign rallies taking over towns like Borama, Erigavo, and Hargeisa, Somaliland’s streets display the vibrant colors of competing parties: Kulmiye’s green and yellow, Waddani’s orange, and the Social Justice Party’s dark green.
Somaliland, a breakaway and self-declared republic with a democratic multi-party system since breaking away from Somalia in May 1991, is set for a direct vote to elect its president. This election, taking place in a region marked by political conflicts and long term leaders, stands out as voters express pride in their democratic practices. Many Somalis, determined to showcase peaceful governance, hope for international recognition, emphasizing that their election structure is rare and exemplary within the Horn of Africa.
