By M.A. Egge
Somaliland’s election campaign took a frenzy turn over the week when challenging political organization KAAH flexed its muscles to depict its formidability as far as the political parties’ general elections are concerned.
The organization’s political field day sounded a warning to existing political parties and associated aspiring ones when it depicted that it was a show of force to be reckoned with as it mobilized thousands of supporters across the country as thousands turned out to show their support.
The main event happened at the city’s Freedom Garden (Beerta Xorieda) where keynote speech was given by the founder and chair of KAAH Mohamoud Hashi Abdi.
He thanked the political organization’s members for the massive support they have shown KAAH.
He condemned the arrest of officials from the Kaah political organization in Gabiley region, and noted that the arrests made by “the government and the KULMIYE party” targeting those officials is against the law.
He angrily accused the state for arbitrarily arresting KAAH officials and supporters and warned that it was an intimidation in futility.
He stated that there was a wave of cry for political change in the country and that whoever tried to impede it would be swept away by the currents.
The politician who was a former powerful minister warned that protocols of electioneering processes should not be flouted and the National Electoral Commission should be left to do its duties unhindered.
He thanked the thousands of supporters who are seeking political change and asked them to vote for the KAAH political organization.
He particularly thanked Gabiley residents terming them humble people and cautioned that people should not be polarized by the state pitting them against each other.
Thousands of people, in every rural and urban center across the nation, carried placards and miniature flags and emblems of the political organization.
Most adorned themselves with clothes bearing the colour and logo of KAAH hence deafeningly chanted slogans in support of it, dotted with ululations, music blaring and honking underpinning their support and the enthusiasm in wishing triumph for the organization.
Speakers and supporters alike echoed support for the WADDANI presidential candidate Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro canvassing votes for him.
The elections scheduled to be held on 13th November 2024 are for both the presidential and political party organizations.
The Constitution requires that the top three political organizations become the official political parties in the nation for a period of three years.
The currently existing three official political parties viz, KULMIYE, WADDANI and UCID are being challenged by seven other political organizations, with KAAH having shown that it is the most formidable.
Both elections are to be held simultaneously on the same day.