Somaliland international partners urge political stakeholders to agree on a timely roadmap election.
For the first time ever, Somaliland's foreign allies have officially spoken out against the extension of President Bihi's tenure by the house of elders by two years. The international partners emphasized the significance of a consensus-driven process that enables elections to be held as soon as possible in a manner consistent with the technical considerations laid out by Somaliland's National Electoral Commission, without specifically stating whether or not the mandate extension was appropriate. In a statement, they urged the political stakeholders to work together constructively to agree on a timely roadmap for the elections for Somaliland’s democratic credibility and stability. The declaration was made only a few days after opposition parties explicitly criticized the house of elders' decision to extend President Bihi's term by two years and stated they would no longer accept him as "a legitimate president" when his term ends on November 13. a