Faisal Ali Warabe

Leader of the Justice and Welfare Party

Date of Birth: 1948
Place of Birth: Hargeisa

Faisal Ali Warabe, leader of the second opposition party, the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID), has no political baggage from ex-President Mohamed Siad Barre's regime. This has worked in his favour and he has cultivated a successful, if relatively low key, media profile. Popularity remains second to clan links in Somaliland and Faisal's own Eidigalla/Isaaq is smaller than the Habr Jaalo.

Much will depend upon the inroads Faisal has made into Habr Awal support. This is the clan of former President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal and has tended to support the UDUB as the party of government. Faisal formed UCID in 2001. It came third in the 2003 elections, with only 16% of votes.

Since then, the UCID has won 21 of 82 parliamentary seats and with the Kulmiye party in some disarray and increasing concern over President Dahir Riyale's commitment to democracy, Faisal's comparative youth - in his fifties - and his relatively clean political image could even carry the day.