Hargeisa (SD) – UK Ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster on a visit to Hargeisa met with opposition party leaders and reportedly discussed electoral challenges in Somaliland.

The UK government is one of the countries helping Somaliland with elections, security and other developmental projects.

Wadani party chairman Abdirahman Irro and UCID chairman has lodged a complaint with the UK Ambassador to Somalia, Kate Foster, accusing the Somaliland Police Chief of harassing opposition candidates, according to sources close to the opposition.

Wadani and UCID told the Ambassador separately that police are arresting candidates who had been approved by the Electoral Commission and had constitutional immunity.

The opposition Party leadership told the ambassador that they would not accept the continued detention of opposition candidates, and that it could lead to dire consequences.

Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, received in his office yesterday the British Ambassador to Somalia Amb. Kate Foster with the head of British house Stuart Brown.

it is unclear whether the two discussed the country’s electoral issues.

A statement from the Somaliland presidency said, “The president of Somaliland briefed the ambassador on Somaliland’s independence and democracy, and that it is an example to many countries in the Horn of Africa.”