Kulmiye Party supporters welcome its leadership to Berbera
Kulmiye Party supporters welcome its leadership to Berbera

Somaliland Press Editor’s Note:

The following article by Our contributor, Liban Ahmad, was posted on Somalilandpress.com  in April  2010. We think it is relevant to revisit pre-election days of 2010 and republish it with a view  to trigger a debate about what the ruling party of Somaliland has done to address issues raised by our contributor six years ago. 
Posting date: April 14, 2010

 

HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Kulmiye party of Somaliland is positioning itself as a party of change but its policies are ambiguous.

The International Crisis Group cautioned against holding elections in Sool where the largest number of potential new ‘voters’ were registered last year although Sool’s turn-coat politician, Ahmed Abdi Habsade argued that no voter registration had taken place in Sool & Sanaag regions.

The following list of questions for Kulmiye are intended to trigger a debate on, among other issues, the direction of the party, its relationship with UCID party, and how it has so far addressed the breach of Code of Conduct for Political Organizations by other parties.

1-How would KULMIYE party solve the fraud in voter registration that led to the postponement of elections in Somaliland?

2- Will KULMIYE consider the possibility of forming a coalition government with UCID led by Faysal Ali Warabe if the need arises?

3- In an interview posted on YouTube , KULMIYE leader has told Ahmed Hassan Awke, the Somali newscaster, that Somaliland Vice President, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin, had urged his sub-clan to vote for UDUB Party, Somaliland’s ruling party. Does KULMIYE leader consider the Vice President’s remarks a breach of the Code of Conduct for Political Organizations?

4- If KULMIYE were given a chance to introduce electoral reform, what would it do to reduce the possibility of electoral stalemate that has bedevilled Somaliland since 2007?

5- KULMIYE party leader, Ahmed M. Mahamoud Silanyo blamed President Dahir Riyale Kahin for the assassination of Osmaan Yusuf Nuur who was commander of the 12th division of Somaliland Military in Las-Anod last year. Does this mean KULMIYE leader has lost faith in Somaliland judiciary?

6- Why has KULMIYE fallen short of addressing the Somaliland government’s policy of ignoring and threatening traditional leaders of pro-union constituencies in Sool region?

7- Will a KULMIYE-led government hold talks with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia?

Written by: Liban Ahmad, 14 April 2010
Libahm@gmail.com
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Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial

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