Waddani Issues Response To Kulmiye-UCID Election Resolution

Hargeisa,(26-04-2019)- Somaliland’s main opposition party, Waddani, has issued it’s an official response to the recent agreement between Kulmiye & UCID with regard to the parliamentary and local elections scheduled for December 2019, as well as, the continuing dispute regarding the current National Elections Commission (NEC).

In a press communique, Waddani, states the following:-

Preamble: Mindful of the need to continue Somaliland’s path toward democracy and taking into consideration the recent visit to Somaliland by EU Ambassadors, Waddani, would like to make the following clear:-

1. That Waddani Supports the holding of parliamentary and local elections scheduled for December 2019.

2. That Waddani is willing and able to participate in any elections held in Somaliland, providing that an impartial National Elections Commission is constituted.

3. That Waddani would like to see following changes made to the Elections Bill currently in front of the House of Representatives, clause 6, article 12, sub-articles 1 and 2, should be amended to include that any future National Elections Commission should consist of nine (9) members.

4. That Waddani supports the calls from both within Somaliland and the international community to replace the current National Elections Commission on 6th of June, 2019, so that a new NEC have enough time to conduct the parliamentary and local elections scheduled for December, 2019.

5. That Waddani, although mindful of the protracted tenure of the current Somaliland House of Representative, still believes that the house can play a meaningful role in creating the right environment to hold national elections. The party doesn’t support the administration’s stance that the House of Representative has failed in its duties.

6. That Waddani considers unconstitutional the attempt by the other two parties, Kulmiye and UCID to try and hold national elections in Somaliland without the participation of all the official parties in the country.

7. That Waddani will not accept the agreement between Kulmiye and UCID of the 23rd April 2019 and believes that any attempt to circumvent the constitution of Somaliland will not only be illegal but not in the interest of Somaliland and it’s citizens.

The communique was signed by the chair of the party, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Cirro”

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