Hold elections before end of 2020, UN tells Somaliland

The UN, EU and other international partners in Somalia have called on Somaliland authorities to hold parliamentary elections by 2020 following a new extension of terms for both Lower and Upper House to 2022 and 2023 respectively.

The international partners said in a joint statement Wednesday it was ‘concerned’ by the decision to extend the life of parliament for the sixth time now. But unlike a similar statement in 2017 following another election delay, the partners stopped short of reference to consequences.

“We therefore call on the government and all political actors to reaffirm, through both words and deeds, the long-standing culture of mutual agreement, consensus and compromise, to find a way through this current impasse in order for both parliamentary and local elections to take place without any further delay, well before the end of the calendar year 2020,” the statement read in part.

The Upper House (Guurti) Sunday added itself three more years and two years to the Lower Houses throwing off balance any plans for elections. The current parliament has been sitting since 2005 when it was first elected.

In its January 27, 2017 statement, the partners warned it would not cover any election costs for delayed elections adding, ‘Somaliland’s reputation and credibility will suffer another severe blow from this decision’.

“A derailed political transition will inevitably compromise the international community´s ability and willingness to engage with Somaliland’s authorities,” the statement read.

But in Wednesday’s statement, the partners expressed concern and called for an inclusive Electoral Commission. “Only strong, democratically elected institutions can deliver the development outcomes that the people of Somaliland deserve,” they said.