23 August 2001
Muhammad Ibrahim Egal, the leader of the self-declared state of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia, is facing criticism for establishing his own political party. Accusations against Egal, including those of using government funds and misappropriating money to found his own party, have led to an attempt to impeach him. Thirty-seven MPs placed a proposal before parliament calling for him to be removed from office. The proposal included a complaint that he had been too "ambiguous" in pushing for Somaliland independence. Diplomatic sources told IRIN that Egal had only "narrowly" averted impeachment.
Egal was criticised for forging ahead with the founding of his own political party, the Allied People's Democratic Party (or UDUB, meaning "pillar"), by holding a conference in early July in Hargeysa with representatives from the regions, districts, parliament, and current administration. The participants reportedly prepared and approved the party rules and regulations, and established a central committee. Critics of Egal said he was using "state" resources to establish his party, and had brought in leading members of the present government, giving him an unfair advantage in upcoming multiparty and presidential elections. However, diplomatic and humanitarian sources told IRIN that the main thrust of the complaint put forward in parliament was based on a package of written "evidence" that Egal had given interviews, made speeches and written letters demonstrating a lack of commitment to Somaliland independence. Of the 37 MPs, 24 were described by the source as "hardcore secessionists".
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