Somalia: Somaliland House of Elders turns down request to accede to poll deal

HARGEISA, Somalia, August 8, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Somaliland’s forum for traditional affairs voted against a request by President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Siilaanyo) to accede to a poll deal, risking fresh row over term extension, Garowe Online reports.

Saed Jama Ali, Deputy Chairman of House of Elders appeared before the reporters, saying the forum rejected president’s proposal in which he demanded for the acceptance of agreement signed between Ruling Kulmiye party and opposition bloc on May 28.

The two sides agreed to participate in parliamentary and presidential elections in December 2016, four months ahead of the date slated by House of Elders on May 11.

The agreement at the time brought a feud and mass protests spurred by presidential term extension to an end.

Forum for tradition extended Siilaanyo’s term in office by 22 months, drawing ire from supporters of Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) and Wadani.

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