Hillaac Leader Blames Awdal Disunity for Setback in Somaliland Elections

[Deeq A.]

Professor Samatar: ”I cannot discount the impact of virulent clannism-based considerations prevalent in Somaliland during elections.”

Hargeisa (PP News Desk) — Professor Ahmed Samatar, a retired political scientist and the leader of Hillaac, a political association that did not qualify for party status in Somaliland elections, blamed disunity in his Awdal constituency for failing to challenge the status quo in Somaliland’s political parties. “We are proud of our association with the Kulmiye party and President Muse Bihi Abdi and congratulate the winning Waddani party. There was sinister, hate-based propaganda disseminated in Awdal against President Muse Bihi Abdi,” Professor Samatar told MM Somali TV.

Professor Samatar said the reasons for his political association’s underperformance and failure to attain party status were varied. “Maybe we did not campaign effectively to deliver our message clearly, or perhaps many voters decided not to vote for Hillaac because they perceived it as a political association linked to the Awdal. I cannot discount the impact of virulent clannism-based considerations prevalent in Somaliland,” he added.

Hillaac campaigned on a platform to diversify Somaliland’s political system, which is dominated by three Isaaq subclans. The UCID party was replaced by KAAH, led by Mohamud Hashi, a former Kulmiye member from Bura’o who left the ruling party to form an alliance with Waddani to unseat President Bihi. KAAH gained significant support in Awdal. “Awdal voters expect KAAH to return the favour,” said the professor.

©  Puntland Post, 2024

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