Somalia: Somaliland opposition, ruling party agree to 2016 Elections

HARGEISA, Somalia, May 28, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Ruling Kulmiye party and opposition bloc have agreed on early elections after weeks-long damaging political deadlock over a year and ten months term extension for  Somaliland President’s term in office, Garowe Online reports.

In a poll deal jointly signed by ruling Kulmiye party Chairman Musse Bihi Abdi, Vice President Abdirahman Saylici and two opposition leaders Faisal Ali Warabe and Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), the sides agreed that parliamentary and presidential elections be held in December 2006, four months ahead of the date slated by House of elders on May 11.

“[Parties] yielded assent that presidential and parliamentary elections be held in December 2016,” read a copy of tripartite agreement.

The deal brings a feud sparked by a decision to extend President Ahmed Mohamud Mohamud (Siilaanyo)’s term of office by 22 months to an end.

A 30-member committee drawn from Somaliland’s Forum for traditional affairs announced the presidential term extension, leading to mass protests in the second largest city, Burao.

Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as de facto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet. 

GAROWE ONLINE