When President Dahir Rayale Kahin recently traveled by an airplane to Erigavo with an UDUB delegation, he probably did not know that he was starting a new tradition. For a few days later, Ahmed Sillanyo and a Kulmiye delegation chartered a plane to fly from Buro back to Hargeysa; and right after that, Faysal Ali Warabe and other leaders of UCID capped their campaign with a whirlwind tour of five regions. Circumstances, such as the bad roads and the need to save time, may have dictated the presidential candidates’ opting for air travel. But there is no doubt that they were aware of the symbolism of using airplanes for political campaigning in an impoverished country such as Somaliland. Through their use of airplanes, the contenders were sending the message to the electorate, that not only are they capable of putting together sophisticated political operations but they also have the financial means to crisscross the country on airplanes. In other words, air travel was being used to project power and status. But in order to capture people’s imagination, power and status are not enough. There must be an element of beauty. Kulmiye’s supporters in Las Anod provided this missing element, when in one of their rallies, they put on display some of the finest horses of Las Anod. The sheer beauty and grace of those creatures was just enchanting. They certainly captured our imagination.

To get a glimpse of these horses, click here: http://www.holhol.net/view_latest.php?articleid=4969

Homeee | Contact us | Links | Archives | Search