Somaliland: Former President Dahir Rayale Returns Home from France

Hargeisa, Oct 12, 2013 (SDN) -Former president Dahir Rayale Kahin has on Friday returned home from France where he lives since his ouster in 2010 election. The former president accompanied by his wife Huda Barkhad Rayale was tumultuously received by a multitude of people upon his return to the country through Hargeisa’s Egal international airport.

The former president Dahir Rayale Kahin and his family has been residing in France after losing the 2010 presidential elections thus handing the reins of power to Current president Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo of Kulmiye party.

Dahir Rayale Kahin was the third President of Somaliland. He became the third president of Somaliland on May 3, 2002, after the death of Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal. He won elections on April 14, 2003, representing the Ururka Dimuqraadiga Umada Bahawday (UDUB), or United Democratic People’s Party, and was sworn into office on May 16, 2003.

Throughout the period that Rayale was president of Somaliland, he maintained peace and tranquility of Somaliland. In addition, his administration contributed to state-building and institutional development. In terms of democratization, his administration successfully organized local council election, parliamentary election and two presidential elections, all dubbed by the international community as free and fair. Mostly, importantly, Somali people consider him as a great statesman, following his peaceful transfer of power to the incumbent president, Ahmed Silanyo.

SDN Hargeisa