Somaliland crisis

Somaliland’s crisis tips into deadly violence

The violence comes on the back of Bihi's repeated failure to agree on holding a timely election, with the temperature continuing to rise after talks failed to reach a consensus on the Nov 13 vote.
 

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Somaliland’s crisis tips into deadly violence

HARGEISA, Somalia - Somaliland's electoral stalemate has reached its peak after anti-government protests organized by opposition leaders broke out across the regions on Thursday.

Clashes between police and pro-opposition protesters erupted in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, and other big cities, including Burco and Erigavo as the dispute over the upcoming election worsens. 

The northern breakaway region is descending even further into violence that could the peaceful state that has been struggling for international recognition for 30 years into a battlefield. 

The president of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi has confirmed five were killed - 3 in Hargeisa and 2 in Burco while over 100 people, including police, were wounded in Thursday's violent demonstration.

The police soldiers are said to have used live bullets to disperse the protesters who were throwing stones at the security forces during the clashes, according to the eyewitnesses.

The Internet has been disrupted in Somaliland on Thursday ahead of planned protests over the postponement of elections. The service was restored later in the day.

Videos posted on social media showed soldiers firing on protesters, resulting in the deaths of more than 5 people. The death toll is likely to increase as several are in critical conditions.

The situation remains tense with security units deployed in the main cities as the opposition leaders - Abdirahman Irro of Waddani and Faisal Ali Warabe of UCID vowed to continue the rally.

The violence comes on the back of Bihi's repeated failure to agree on holding a timely election, with the temperature continuing to rise after talks failed to reach a consensus on the Nov 13 vote.

Muse Bihi whose term expires in November of this year is accused of being reluctant to hold an election with the opposition saying he wants an extension and to stay in office beyond his mandate.

Somali president Hassan Sheikh and PM Hamza Abdi Barre on Friday called for calm and dialogue among political leaders in Somaliland to avoid further bloodshed. 

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