Somalia calls for calm after a violent police crackdown on unusual political protests in Somaliland

Aug. 13 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the Speaker of the Lower House, Sheikh Adan Madobe, have called for calm after the protests organized in recent days by the Somaliland opposition, unusual given the political stability that they usually enjoy. the territory, and that have resulted in three deaths and dozens of injuries.

In addition to those killed, at least 27 others were injured in the capital, Hargeisa, after the two main opposition parties, the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) and Wadani, called on the president, Muse Bihi Abdi, not to delay the presidential elections scheduled for November 1 and to fix a conflictive system for registering candidates.

The republic, actually considered a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, does not enjoy formal recognition by any country in the world, nor by the United Nations, but it maintains excellent relations with several neighboring countries, especially Ethiopia, and is considered one of the the most stable places, behind closed doors, in the Horn of Africa.

For this reason, the Somali president has asked the Bihi government and the Somaliland opposition to “find a solution to the internal struggles between the two parties and agree on a way to end the stalemate through dialogue”, according to the portal of Goobjoog news.

The president has warned that the problem caused by the violence in Hargeisa will not only affect Somaliland, but also the entire region.

During a press conference following the incidents on Thursday, Somaliland police officers admitted they opened fire after claiming some protesters were armed with knives and refused to follow instructions, leaving them in fear for their lives.