North Western of Somalialeadership race takes on a new dimension
HARGEISA, Somalia – The race for the leadership of Somaliland’s parliament has taken on a new dimension after the split of the opposition UCID party, which could spark stiff competition in the coming weeks in the separatist northern region.
This came after the ruling Kulmiye party succeeded in dividing one of the main rival opposition parties which formed an alliance with Waddani to win a majority in parliament following the parliamentary elections in May.
UCID managed to secure 21 seats in the last parliamentary elections.
Already, 11 deserting members of the UCID party have signed a pact with the Kulmiye party in Hargeisa, which would see them support former foreign minister Yassin Faratoon in his candidacy for the presidency of the House.
At an event in Hargeisa, a new alliance announced that former UCID members will run for the first and second speakers respectively in the new arrangement which gives the ruling party a bit of a breather.
The Kulmiye party managed to win 30 seats in all 82 chambers while Waddani won 31 MPs. Under the new deal, Said Giire and Abdinasir Qodah resigned from UCID and declared their candidacy for deputy positions.
“We left UCID due to lack of consultation, power grab and injustice,” said Qodah, who spoke at the event at the Mansoor Hotel. He was secretary of UCID before his last departure which is considered by many to be a defection.
UCID said he was fired, accusing him of “fraud” and “division” within the party, which he vehemently denied in Saturday’s media address.
However, UCID did not disclose the evidence of the serious allegations, while condemning its decision to sign a deal with Kulmiye, calling it “illegal” and “unacceptable”.
The pact between UCID and the Kulmiye factions shatters the opposition coalition, which was to win most parliamentary leadership positions. The Kulmiye party was defeated in the May elections.
However, the deal comes at a time when members of the opposition have told media in recent days that Kulmiye is paying bribes “to buy MPs votes”, which has not been proven.
Since Somalia’s declaration of independence in 1991, North Western of Somaliahas not been recognized internationally as the world considers it to be part of the larger Somalia in the Horn of Africa.
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