By Hussien Mohamed Yusuf
The recent arrest of Member of Parliament Mohamed Abib at Egal International Airport upon his return from the United Arab Emiratesat Egal International Airport upon his return from the United Arab Emirates is nothing short of a calculated political maneuver by President Muse Bihi Abdi. The circumstances surrounding Abib’s arrest—marked by an unnecessary and prolonged search before he was eventually found detained in Mandera Prison—have all the hallmarks of a government determined to silence dissenting voices at any cost. This arrest is a deliberate move to destabilize the Awdal region, where Abib enjoys strong support, and to create a pretext for postponing the upcoming elections by inciting conflict in the area.
MP Mohamed Abib is no ordinary politician; he is a prominent figure in Somaliland’s political scene and a vocal critic of President Bihi’s administration. His strong ties to the Awdal region, where he is seen as a champion of local interests, make him a significant threat to the current regime. Bihi’s administration, already under scrutiny for its increasing authoritarian tendencies, seems to have seized upon Abib as a convenient scapegoat to advance its agenda of consolidating power.
The manner in which Abib was arrested raises serious questions about the rule of law in Somaliland. A high-profile arrest at the airport, followed by a mysterious disappearance and eventual discovery in a distant prison, is not just an overreach of executive power—it is a blatant abuse of it. This is not about law enforcement; this is about sending a message to anyone who dares to oppose the current administration: dissent will not be tolerated.
But why target Abib? The answer lies in the strategic importance of the Awdal region and its potential to disrupt Bihi’s plans for holding onto power. By arresting Abib, Bihi has ignited a firestorm of anger and resentment in Awdal, a region already feeling marginalized by the central government. This move seems designed to provoke unrest and conflict, which could then be used as a justification to postpone the upcoming elections. In a country where the democratic process is still fragile, this kind of manipulation is particularly dangerous.
Bihi’s actions are not about maintaining law and order; they are about creating chaos where none existed, all in the name of clinging to power. The arrest of Abib is just one piece of a broader strategy to weaken the opposition and maintain an iron grip on Somaliland’s political future. By destabilizing Awdal, Bihi can create the illusion of a crisis that only he, with his “strong leadership,” can manage—thereby making the case for delaying elections and extending his time in office.
This is a dangerous game, and it has serious implications for Somaliland’s stability. The Awdal region, known for its relative peace and stability, is now at risk of becoming a flashpoint for broader unrest. The people of Awdal, who see Abib as a defender of their interests, are unlikely to sit quietly while their representative is unjustly imprisoned. The potential for conflict is real, and it is being stoked by a government more interested in power than in the welfare of its citizens.
Moreover, anyone interested in Somaliland should be deeply concerned about these developments. The arrest of a prominent opposition figure under dubious circumstances sends a troubling signal about the direction in which Somaliland is heading. The erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarian practices could lead to a loss of goodwill and support—something Somaliland can ill afford.
As someone who closely follows the ABCs of Muse Bihi’s scapegoat politics to prolong his sitting in office, it is clear that the arrest of MP Mohamed Abib is not an isolated incident; it is part of a broader pattern of repression that threatens the very fabric of Somaliland’s democracy. If Bihi is allowed to continue down this path unchecked, the consequences could be catastrophic—not just for Awdal, but for the entire nation.
Hussien Mohamed Yusuf
Email: [email protected]
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