ERIGAVO (SD) – Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi today, reiterated that the Political Associations registrations will be held ahead of the presidential elections in November 2022, escalating the country’s political dispute.

President Bihi made the controversial comments while addressing the community in Erigavo, Sanaag region, where he is on a working trip.

The president said that in order for the presidential election to take place, it is necessary to hold the election of political parties first and then the presidential election.

The chairman of the Somaliland opposition party Wadani, Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, critizesed President Bihi’s statement in holding the associations elections first.

Hirsi added that there is no election ahead of the presidential elections slated for this coming November.

Opposition parties in Somaliland have previously boycotted the President’s attempts to circumvent the electoral process and extend his term in office, they have called for prodemocracy rally around the country.