Hargeisa (Waddani Party) Presidential candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) is an experienced diplomat who held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia. After the collapse of the Somali central government, Irro participated in the rebuilding of the Republic of Somaliland, contributing to both business and politics.
(Irro) was among the first politicians to establish the multi-party system in the Republic of Somaliland, which took root in 2002. Subsequently, he became a member of the first elected parliament in 2005, representing the Sahil region with the highest vote count. (Irro) successfully led the first publicly elected House of Representatives of Somaliland and served as the longest-standing Speaker of the House, holding the position for 12 years.
Muse Bihi Abdi, on the other hand, is a former colonel in the Somali Air Force. He is described as lacking national leadership qualities. Political analysts consider him a man of a tough, uncompromising nature with limited social skills, often resistant to dialogue and social interaction. His associates describe him as distrustful, reluctant to listen to others, and difficult to work with or manage.
During his seven-year administration in Somaliland, Bihi has struggled to set the country on a path of development. The country has experienced clan conflicts, redeployment of national forces to the Sool region, a decline in the national economy, rising youth unemployment, and a breakdown in the social trust that previously fostered unity among Somaliland communities.
Under Bihi’s leadership, everything has seemingly taken a negative turn, leading to widespread public disillusionment and a sense of loss regarding the progress that once seemed within reach.