Somaliland opposition accuses police of firing on protesters

Somaliland

Mogadishu – Opposition leaders in Somaliland accused police of firing tear gas and live bullets to break up an anti-government protest on Thursday in Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway region of Somalia.

Dozens of angry demonstrators staged a rally after a call by the opposition, which charges that the government is dragging its feet over the holding of a presidential election in Somaliland in November.

“They were demonstrating peacefully when inexperienced police unfortunately used live bullets and tear gas against the people,” Feysal Ali Warabe, leader of the opposition Justice and Welfare party (UCID), told reporters.

“Some legislators were shot, and others arrested during the demonstration,” he said, adding that the protest aimed to push for the “protection of Somaliland’s democracy and laws”.

Police commissioner Mohamed Adan Saqadhi told reporters the rally was unlawful and that it was the police who were shot at with live bullets, denying that officers used such ammunition.

“We… instead fired rubber bullets and tear gas just like the police in the rest of the world,” he said.


Hersi Ali Hassan, chairperson of the main opposition Waddani party which had called the demonstration, said four people had suffered bullet wounds. Police did not disclose an injury toll or give the number of arrests.

‘Excessive force’


“They beat women, legislators, and officials of the opposition parties, there are some who are in hospital now,” said former Waddani leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Ciro, a candidate in the November poll.

Witness Abdiqani Mohamed, a Waddani supporter, said: “The police fired tear gas and beat some people with the butt of their guns, others were punched and kicked in the back while on the ground.

“They have used terrible excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. All we are asking is for the president to hold the elections for his office on time.”

The poll is scheduled for November 23, but the opposition has voiced concern that the government is planning to open registration for new political parties ahead of the vote.

Such a move, the opposition claims, is against the constitution and they fear it would dilute support for their parties.

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There are only three political parties currently licensed in Somaliland, the Kulmiye Peace, Unity, and Development Party of current president Muse Bihi Abdi, Waddani and the UCID. Their 10-year mandate expires in December 2022.

Opposition leaders have called for further demonstrations across Somaliland on Saturday.

But Interior Minister Mohamed Kahin accused them of seeking to “destabilise” Somaliland and warned that such demonstrations would not be tolerated.

“We inform all the police and other security forces in all regions that these demonstrations are unlawful, and we call the forces to take legal actions against them.”

The former British protectorate declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but the move has not been recognised by the international community, leaving the Horn of Africa region of about four million people poor and isolated.

Somaliland has however remained relatively stable while Somalia has been wracked by decades of civil war, political violence and an Islamist insurgency.


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Source: AFP 

Picture: Twitter/@HodanHomes

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