HARGEISA, Somalia Oct 20 (Garowe Online) - The president of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland has forwarded the list of names for the new election commission members to parliament, Radio Garowe reports.

President Dahir Riyale met with the Council of Ministers on Tuesday in Hargeisa to discuss the new list and other election-related issues, according to a press statement from the president’s office.

Somaliland Cabinet

The seven-member election commission consists of three members appointed by President Riyale, two members appointed by the House of Guurti, the upper house of parliament, and one member each appointed by opposition parties Kulmiye and UCID.

The president's statement said that the list was forwarded for ratification to the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives.

Somaliland's election commission resigned in late September to pave the way for the election deal between President Riyale and the opposition parties.

Located in northwest Somalia, Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of the Horn of Africa country in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally.

Source: Garowe Online