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Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo
Somaliland

Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo

Leader of Kulmiye (Peace, Unity and Development Party)

The leader of Kulmiye (Peace, Unity and Development Party), Ahmed Mohamed 'Silanyo', was widely expected to win the 2003 presidential election. He lost to the Unity Peace and Independence party candidate Dahir Riyale Kahin by just 80 votes. Silanyo was expected to win the next election but his party has problems. Always an autocratic Chairman, younger activists are challenging Silanyo, particularly since the party's March 2009 convention. Some senior members left and Kulmiye is weaker than in 2003.

Silanyo is from the Habr Jaalo/Isaaq and respected in Somaliland politics, as he was when a minister under Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre. He is around 70 and has kept the younger generation largely out of the party leadership.