Somaliland’s leader Muse Bihi Abdi who is from the ruling party, Kulmiye is facing pressure from the opposition parties who vowed not to recognize him as the “legitimate” president of the region after his term ended on November 13 without the conduct of presidential elections.
In a joint statement, Waddani and UCID Parties said the current president, effective from November 13, would be termed the outgoing president and Kulmiye Party Chairman.”Starting from today, Musa Bihi and his cabinet of ministers do not have the legitimacy to continue running the country in accordance with Article 88(1) of the Constitution.
Continuance of his administration is tantamount to rule by force and autocracy,” the joint statement reads in part.
“We call on the international community and foreign companies to neither enter any agreement with the outgoing president whose term in office expired, cooperate with him in any form nor support him or his cabinet of ministers in any way.”
In August deadly protests broke out in the region with demonstrators demanding elections be held in November amid suspicions President Muse Bihi Abdi wanted to delay the poll and extend his term.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition for its independence. The region has been mostly peaceful while Somalia has grappled with three decades of civil war.
In the August clashes between security forces and opposition protesters at least five people were killed and 100 injured.
