Somaliland remains unrecognized for the past 31 years even though the country fulfilled all prerequisites to get international acceptance from the world communities.
Somaliland has authorized its own constitution, currency, and judicial system throughout the past three decades. It has also maintained stability, peace, economic progress, and diplomatic ties with other nations. In addition, the army was created in order to protect land and marine borders as well as piracy and counterterrorism in the Horn of Africa.
Therefore, Somaliland had held three presidential elections as well as have elected parliament, and local councils that costed millions of dollars to our taxpayers and the international community.
However, the fundamental elements of democracy and development are present in all of the Somaliland's recent endeavors. However, despite the fact that the four successive elected governments of Somaliland knocked on every door to tout the democratic victories and landmarks we achieved since 1991, our diplomatic message sent to the regional organizations IGAD and the African Union and the global superpowers of Europe and the USA did not succeed.
As a result, in order to safeguard democracy, Somaliland must uphold democratic ideals such as building an independent society, embracing diversity, gender equality, intellectual freedom, and social justice. The designated administration, parliament, and the opposition parties must exercise critical thought and address any issues that could prolong elections if Somaliland wants to avoid postponing elections.
Elections in Somaliland were postponed without cause, and the bylaws governing the parliamentary election process are still in draft form. Election timetables are also poorly prepared despite being a crucial task for achieving democracy and winning the support of the world community on a diplomatic level. However, when evaluating a nation's democracy, elections, peace, stability, good governance, and corruption control are the most important metrics.
Apart from That, as long as the political parties' electoral stakeholders came to an understanding that was assisted by the EU starting in 2020. In order to elect our next parliament representatives and local councilors, the political parties of Somaliland (Kulmiye, Waddani, and Ucid), the National Election Commission (NEC), as well as the parliament, should expedite the election process. This dialogue between the stakeholders was successful, and a combination of both elections was held on May 31, 2021 and that will become win win solutions.
On the 13th of November 2022 the Presidential election cannot be held, according to the Somaliland National Electoral Commission, which cited technical and financial issues. President Bihi may be able to prolong his tenure as a result of this.
The national electoral commission estimated that commencing on October 1, 2022, the elections would take place over a period of nine months. The national electoral commission must first announce a date when they could hold the election before the house of elders can extend the president's term of office. It is still unclear whether the house would grant the president the additional nine months requested by the electoral commission.
Only a few days had passed since the House of Representatives had adopted a bill that would have combined the presidential and political association elections; the bill still needs to be ratified by the President and the House of Elders.
The national electoral commission of Somaliland has already warned the public that they are unable to carry out a scheduled election owing to a variety of factors, including technical and financial issues as well as droughts.
The house elders also sent back the recently approved election law amendment to the house of representatives. A move that could trigger further constitutional and political crises. Initial reports say the speaker of the house of representatives Abdikrizak Khalif deliberately rejected receiving the amendment law which his house was passed recently from the house of elders that promoted the amendment law documents in a cardboard box to be placed between the two houses’ buildings.
This follows after 46 House of Representatives MPs sent a complaint letter to the house of elders, claiming the procedure of the approval was illegal and against the house in-laws. A complaint was denied by the rest of the house of representatives including the chairmanship.
Somaliland House of Elders sent an amendment to the nation’s election law back to the House of Representatives. The law sought to alter the rules governing associations and political parties. The House of elders stated that their decision was based on a complaint from 46 MPs, who argued that the vote violated House bylaws. The chairman of the house of representatives again returned the election law to the upper house of the Parliament.
On 01 Oct 2022, The Somaliland house of elders unanimously extended President Muse Bihi's term by two years, potentially escalating a political conflict. The house also gave their chamber a five-year extension.
This comes shortly after the national electoral commission of Somaliland stated that the presidential election would take place within nine months. The commission stated that they would prepare all election-related obligations during this time, including voter registration.
This is not the first time that a president of Somaliland has had their term extended, as previous presidents had similar extensions made by the house of elders, the only chamber with the power to do so. For the past few months, Somaliland has been stuck in a political impasse over the order and timing of elections, which has yet to be resolved.
Finally, Somaliland postponed presidential election will damage the recognition of Somaliland. We are advising Somaliland stakeholders to avoid any delayed election in the near future because the nation is searching for international recognition from the international community.
Hargeisa, Somaliland
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