afrol News, 6 July - Somaliland’s two opposition parties have warned government against further delays in the holding of presidential election, saying the elections are long overdue. The Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland has postponed elections four times.

According to the joint statement from the two opposition parties, Kulmiye and UCID, the parties have lost confidence in the Somaliland election commission.

In May, Somaliland political parties signed an agreement with the Electoral Commission to fix 27 September 2009 as an election date following a series of negotiations among all the stakeholders.

The statement said the election delay has created a political dispute and lack of confidence for Somaliland democratic progress. “Another election delay would be sole responsibility of the election commission and the current administration,” the statement said.

The parties have recommended that the Somaliland election commission to be expanded by four new members while calling for changing four members of political mediation committee.

In April, opposition parties had marched in the capital, Hargeisa, accusing the government of breaking the constitutional provisions and demanding fair state media coverage.

The opposition parties have also contested the six months term extension by the Upper House, saying it was derailing the country’s fragile democracy.

Somaliland's political crisis began in May 2008 when President Dahir Riyale's five-year term in office was extended by an additional year by the upper house of parliament, the House of Guurti. Opposition parties condemned the extension calling it unconstitutional.

A year later, President Riyale received a second term extension after the House of Guurti to allow him to remain in office until the presidential elections slated for the end 2009 are held.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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