HARGEISA (Kaab TV) – The Somaliland Electoral Commission has imposed a nighttime ban on the election campaigns of the Kulmiye and Waddani parties, following allegations that both parties began their campaigns earlier than allowed.
The Electoral Ethics Committee issued a statement accusing both parties of violating the electoral code.
Consequently, the second round of campaign days allocated to each party—November 6, 2024, for Kulmiye, and November 7 for the opposition party Waddani—have been suspended.
The announcement was made by Adam Hussein, Chairman of the Somaliland Electoral Dispute Resolution and Monitoring Committee.
Both parties were accused of starting their campaigns at 6:00 pm, instead of the mandated 8:00 pm, violating the election ethics code. Kulmiye and Waddani were also accused of using loudspeakers on major roads and of allowing men and women to mingle at campaign events.
Fine Imposed on Presidential Office Director
The Electoral Ethics Committee also imposed a fine of 20 million Somaliland shillings (approximately two thousand dollars) on Mohamed Ali Bile, the Director of the Somaliland Presidential Office and a member of President Muse Bihi’s Kulmiye party.
He was accused of holding a Kulmiye campaign event at Hargeisa’s Khayriyada Square, a public space where campaigning is prohibited.
The electoral commission had previously issued a ban on using government-owned spaces and public resources for partisan campaigns.
Kulmiye was also accused of involving armed supporters in a campaign rally held on the evening of October 27 in Hargeisa, where gunshots were reportedly heard, and armed individuals were seen participating.
The Electoral Commission discussed this matter with the police on Tuesday, and Somaliland’s National Intelligence Agency reported last night that it had detained four individuals related to this incident. Among those detained were three soldiers and one civilian.
A fifth individual, also allegedly armed, is still being sought by authorities.