Somaliland votes under tight security
The self-proclaimed state of Somaliland closed its borders Saturday as voters chose their president amid fears Islamists from neighbouring Somalia could try to disrupt the polls.
The northern territory has been more stable than Somalia since it broke away in 1991 but a message warning voters to stay home by the leader of the Al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab movement drew draconian security measures.
“All our country’s forces are locking the borders. Movements and transport inside Somaliland are also forbidden except for those authorised by the national election commission (NEC),” police chief Mohamed Saqadi Dubad said.