Chanting Protesters Force Cancellation of President Rayale’s Scheduled Address at Keiriyada
A crowd of chanting youth protesters forced the cancellation of president Dahir Rayale’s speech at Kheiriyada in Central Burao- Somaliland’ second largest city.
Scores of angry young protesters congregated early this morning in downtown Burao shortly before president Rayale was scheduled to make a speech there. It is not yet clear who was behind the mobilisation of these young protesters.
“It is true that the president was scheduled to make a speech at Kheiriyada but this was cancelled since then due to time constraints. We are well informed that the opposition was mobilising the youth last night but this mean nothing to us because the speech was cancelled anyway due to time constraints,” a cabinet minister who was travelling with the president told Somaliland.Org.
The angry youth protesters who gathered in Central Burao were chanting slogans such as “Down with Rayale”, “ Rayale will not last long”, “Don’t perish at sea, Rayale will go” and so on.
There are hundreds of young Somalilanders who perished on the high seas fleeing their country’s grinding poverty and misery. They blame it partly on the government.
Rayale had yet to arrive at the scene when the angry youth gathered in the area and began ripping up his pictures. It was only then that the speech was called off.
The security around the president was extremely tight and soldiers roamed the major streets of the city. Armoured vehicles were clearly seen positioned in various places.
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