Opposition parties wait for government decision on electoral commission

Hargeisa (Somaliland.com) – Somaliland’s main opposition party Waddani said they are still waiting for a response from the government to end the prolonged dispute over the elections commission. 

On Friday, was the deadline for finalizing the agreement of the political parties on the electoral commission.

The two weeks period for ending the electoral commission deadlock ended yesterday Friday. Still, the dispute that led to the electoral stalemate is yet to be resolved. Somaliland’s main opposition party Waddani said they are still waiting for a response from the government.

Yesterday, the spokesman of Waddani party said they are still waiting on the government to finalize the issue. Barkhad Jama Batun expressed his hope that the issue will be resolved soon. 

The next appointment was after ten days. Yesterday it was Friday and today it’s Saturday. We are still waiting for correspondence from the government and the president’s office. And I hope that this will end successfully. You have the right to ask the spokesman of the president and the president himself about the delay today.

Barkhad Batuun

The government of President Muse Bihi is yet to release any updates on the conclusion of the grace period it had requested. Although it was her who requested the two weeks for finalizing the agreement brokered by the independent mediation committee of elders.

On a related note, the spokesman of Waddani party said Somaliland’s international partners are keen to see Somaliland hold elections this year. He said this was communicated to them in their meeting with James Swan, the UN Secretary General’s Envoy to Somalia.