HARGEISA (SD) -Tomorrow, the entire Somaliland will participate in the combined elections for the presidency and political parties.

These elections have been delayed by two years due to disputes over election laws, with the government wanting to hold the political party elections first so that party candidates could contest in the presidential election, a move opposed by the opposition.

During the period of the dispute, militias emerged, causing security threats. The Buurta Gacan Libaax militia killed over 10 peacekeeping soldiers in an ambush near the mountain, and nearly 10 people died in opposition-organized protests after the elders extended President Biixi’s term by two years.

Eventually, the election dispute was resolved by traditional elders who decided that the party and presidential elections should be held simultaneously, allowing only new parties to compete in the party elections, while established parties could contest in both.

Following this, the parliament and the president approved the elders’ decisions, enabling the elections to proceed tomorrow after much contention.

The most intense competition will be between candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro from the Waddani party and President Muse Bihi Abdi from the Kulmiye party, who has led Somaliland for over 14 years. More than 1 million people are expected to vote.