By: Latifa Yusuf Masai
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – Despite the serious offense of violently disrupting voter registration eleven convicted culprits have been pardoned.
In a presidential decree # JSL/M/XERM/249-3992/052016 the head of state informed that the pardon follows lobbying by Somaliland traditional leaders more so from Maroodi-jeeh and Sahil regions.
“In compliance with section 5 Article 90 of the Somaliland constitution, having perused article 149 of the penal code and in pursuit of apt working relations with traditional leaders who made a personal request to my office, And utilizing powers conferred my office I hereby pardon the eleven elders who were sentenced to prison for disrupting voter registration in Hadayta village “ decreed president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo.
To this effect the following traditional leaders and elders currently serving prison terms are free
1. Suldaan Ibraahim Suldaan Sulub Suldaan Nuur
2. Suldaan Mawliid Cali Ibraahin (Sabbeyse)
3. Chief Agil Abdirahman Hasan Hoore
4. Hasan Mohamed Ali (Hasan Madoobe)
5. Mustafe Abdi Ruush
6. Mohamed Jama Abokor
7. Siyaad Guuleed Hasan (Qoosha)
8. Sidiiq Isse Mahmud (Kastam)
9. Saeed Gaas Aadan
10. Farhan Mohamed Abdilahi
11. Saed Ismail Farah.
12. Adani Mohamed Ahmed
13. Amiir Hashi Handule and
14. Hasan Osman Omar
President Silanyo pardoned the voter registration disrupters not only on the request of traditional Leaders but upon consultation with a committee composed of VP Abdirahman Sayli and including the ministers of Finance, Trade, Industry and the presidency as well as the chairperson of ruling Kulmiye party.
The incident at Hadayta village leading to subsequent events that saw the now pardoned elders confiscating voter registration tools at the local primary and their subsequent arrest and sentencing emanate from a dispute between residents of Awdal and Maroodi-jeep (Hargeisa) who lay claim to the area.
