Somaliland political parties to kick off campaigns today

GOOBJOOG NEWS|HARGEISA: Political parties in Somaliland will commence campaigns today ahead of parliamentary and local government elections slated for the end of this month.

In a directive issued by the chairman of the Somaliland Elections Commission, the three political parties-Kulmiye, Ucid and Waddani will commence campaigns today. Each party is allocated two days from 7 am to 6 pm local time.

The break-away region will conduct parliamentary and local government elections on May 31 ending nearly two decades without elections.

The current MPs were elected in 2005 but attempt to hold subsequent elections have failed owing to several delays. The international community has variously pressured authorities in the break-away region to stick to electoral timelines threatening withdrawal of support.

The elections which are based on one person one vote system adopts the first past the post method where the person with the highest number of votes is declared the winner.

Only three political parties are duly registered and allowed to operate in Somaliland. Kulmiye is currently the ruling party.

Presidential elections took place in 2017.

Below is the campaigns timetable.