Somaliland to Postpone Presidential Election

Somaliland electoral body says it will postpone its scheduled presidential election to next year,

Report says the election was scheduled for November when the incumbent president’s term ends, the region’s electoral body said on Saturday.

The poll will now be held in nine months from October or next July because the current scheduled date of November 13 “is not viable due to time, technical and financial constraints,” the Somaliland National Electoral Commission, SLNEC tweeted on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in August deadly protests broke out in the region with demonstrators demanding elections be held in November amid suspicions President Muse Bihi Abdi wanted to delay the poll and extend his term.

While clashes between security forces and opposition protesters at least five people were killed and 100 injured.

In a press conference after the SLNEC’s announcement, Wadani, one of the opposition parties that championed the August protests, welcomed the new date.

“We welcome the decision we congratulate them for ending the controversy of the presidential election,” Mohamud Wadani party’s information secretary said

Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition for its independence.

The region has been mostly peaceful while Somalia has grappled with three decades of civil war.

REUTERS/CO