Hargeisa (Halbeeg News) – At least 10 people including opposition officials and civilians were injured after Somaliland security forces used live bullets to disperse protesters in Hargeisa town.
According to Somaliland opposition parties, dozens of others were detained by the police.
According to Wadani party chairman, Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, about 10 people, including lawmaker Barkhad Jama Batun, lawmaker Hussein Aden Abdi, secretary Mohamed Sadiq Dhame, secretary Awil Galaydh and deputy secretary Aftax Said Jambir, were wounded today after the police opened fire into a crowd of opposition supporters who were staging a demonstration in Hargeisa town.
Hirsi also said dozens of people had been arrested, including lawmaker Saleban Food, former minister Abdillahi Cukuse, Wadani secretary Mohamed Farah Abdi, and UCID party information secretary Yusuf Kayse Abdillahi.
Speaking shortly after police forcefully dispersed demonstrators, Wadani party presidential candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro accused the police of firing on the demonstrators who were peacefully protesting against Muse Bihi’s government.
“We are sorry for what happened today in Hargeisa, supporters who wanted us to brief them about the current political situation, were fired by the police,” Irro said.
The Somaliland government has earlier vowed never to allow opposition organized demonstrations in Hargeisa town.
Somaliland police are on high alert after the opposition and the government failed to agree on how to manage the demonstration.
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