Somaliland new Electoral Commission sworn in

By: Jama Farah, Horndiplomat contributor

Horndiplomat-Six members of Somaliland’s new electoral commission have sworn at the presidential palace.

Chief Justice Adan Haji Ali Ahmed presided over the swearing-in ceremony with the presence of Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi.

The swearing ceremony comes as there is a dispute between the political parties in Somaliland over the electoral commission.

On November 12, 2019, Somaliland House of Representatives approved six nominees out of the seven members of the National Electoral Commission. Waddani opposition party has withdrawn the one member it nominated.

 In a joint statement, the opposition parties of Somaliland UCID and Waddani rejected the approval of 6 new members of NEC, accused the President of killing democracy and called on “consultative conference to discuss the situation of the country. 

On November 24, 2019, Somaliland House of elders “Guurti” extended two years term for House of Representatives and also extended three more years for its own term.

On the other hand, The opposition parties UCID and Waddani party have rejected the term extension granted to the House of Representatives. In a joint statement, UCID and Waddani party said the term extension is illegal and undermines Somaliland’s democratization process.

Despite conducting multiple presidential polls, the parliamentary elections are long overdue. The first and only election of Somaliland’s House of Representatives was in 2005. Since then, at least six delays have pushed back the process.

This is a developing story, Please check back at the Horndiplomat for Updates.

© Horn Diplomat 2019