President Bihi Forbids Use of Public Resources for Election Campaigning
Ahead of the November 13 presidential election, Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi has issued an order that forbids the use of military personnel, government servants, and public property in election campaigning.
The directive, which was made public on Friday evening, directs government representatives to guarantee that political parties have equal access to government resources and the media throughout the campaign.
The Minister of Information, Awareness, and Culture was instructed by the president to ensure that state-run media provide fair coverage of political parties and groups. The Minister of Internal Affairs is also responsible for protecting public and candidate safety during campaign events and making sure that campaign venues are used fairly.
According to the directive, no government employees or public resources, including the military, may be used in electoral campaigns.
The order is issued as Somaliland’s official presidential campaign gets underway. With the recent resignations of two deputy ministers indicating a change in political allegiances, tensions are on the rise. Former members of the ruling Kulmiye Party, both officials have now sided with opposition candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), demanding a change in leadership.