House of Elders extends House of Representatives terms to two more years

Hargeisa (Somaliland.com) – Somaliland House of Elders has extended the term of House of Representatives to two more years, on Sunday morning session.

The extension will start from Jan 12, 2020, to Jan 12, 2022.

The House of Elders (Known as Guurti) voted overwhelmingly to make the 6th term extension for the House of Representatives since they were elected in September 2005 for a 5-year term.

Today’s Upper House of Parliament’s session was attended by 71 members of its 82 members. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Elders Saeed Jama Ali read a letter on behalf of the recently formed house committee to make recommendations about the length of the extension.

Mr. Saeed said after consultations with different stakeholders, the committee has come up with the suggestion to extend the term of the lower of House of the parliament to two more years and the upper House of Parliament to three years.

The Speaker of the House of Elders Suleiman Mohamoud Adan has asked the members to vote on the recommended term extensions to both Houses of Parliament.

70 members voted in favor of the extension, without any voting against or abstaining from it.

Today’s vote comes after Somaliland President, Muse Bihi Abdi, sent a letter requesting the Guurti to extend the Representatives’ term. The president’s request did not mention the extent or length of the extension.

The House of Representative’s term was extended in 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, January 2019 and lastly today November 2019.

The House of Elders (Guurti) also extended three more years for its own term.

This week, Political parties’ dispute regarding the election and electoral commission nominations have reached a boiling point which has seen opposition rallies in major towns in Somaliland.

The government also jailed, for the first time in Somaliland history, top opposition officials including main opposition party, Waddani’s Spokesperson and Secretary-General, who are still in police custody for more than 8days.