Somalia: Deadlock hinders the Upper House election for Somaliland community

MOGADISHU, Somalia- A standoff is threatening the election of Somaliland's Upper House representatives in Mogadishu as the electoral implementation teams are in deadlock over the decision-making process, Garowe Online reports. 

Electoral commission for Somaliland community has announced on Friday that the ballot to elect the Upper House Senators from northern Somalia will start on Saturday, but the decision was dismissed by FIEIT. 

Differences over the selection of the parliamentarians for Somaliland have undermined crucial steps to conclude the electoral process by the end of December. In a statement released by FIEIT, it stated it is the only body authorized to announce the time when the Upper House election of Somaliland will start and declare the electoral results. 

On the other hand, politicians and elders from Somaliland community have issued a statement, demanding 33-percent quota in the upcoming Upper House chamber of the Federal Parliament, with reference to power-sharing accord between northern and southern Somalia back in 1960.

 This comes amid the postponement of the Somali presidential election for the fifth time following series of delays to conclude the parliamentary elections in regional states. 

Somalis has expressed concerns to the corruption, intimidation and malpractices conducted in the electoral process, which undermine the credibility of the presidential election that is rescheduled to January 2017. 

GAROWEONLINE