Somaliland NEC Announces 10-Month Postponement of Parliamentary and Local Council Elections.

Hornpost staff Reporter February 1, 2026 No Comments

Hargeisa (Horn post) The National Electoral Commission of the Republic of Somaliland (NEC) has officially announced a 10-month postponement of the Parliamentary (House of Representatives) and Local Council elections that were scheduled to be held on 31 May 2026.

In a press statement released on 31 January 2026, the Commission formally notified the public, government institutions, political parties, civil society organizations, and all electoral stakeholders of the decision, citing legal, technical, humanitarian, and security-related challenges that currently prevent the conduct of credible elections.

Although four months remain before the original election date, the NEC said prevailing national conditions make it unfeasible to organize free, fair, and reliable elections within the planned timeframe.

Legal Mandate and Assessment Process:

The NEC stated that the decision was taken in accordance with its constitutional mandate and powers outlined in the General Election and Voter Registration Law (Law No. 91/2023). Under the law, the Commission is responsible for setting election dates and ensuring that all legal, technical, and security requirements are fully met prior to the conduct of any national election.

According to the statement, the Commission conducted a comprehensive national assessment, reviewing the overall political, security, humanitarian, and technical environment across Somaliland.

Key Factors Behind the Delay:

The NEC identified several major challenges directly affecting the feasibility of holding the elections as scheduled:

Widespread drought across all regions of Somaliland, which has led to large-scale displacement, particularly among rural populations, significantly disrupting voter registration preparations.

Security concerns in certain parts of the country, requiring careful evaluation before election operations can be safely implemented.

Prolonged political disagreements among stakeholders regarding the type and framework of the voter registration system, which have taken considerable time and negatively affected the original electoral calendar.

Revised Timeline and Technical Preparations:

Based on its findings and relevant legal provisions, the NEC resolved that:

The Parliamentary and Local Council elections planned for 31 May 2026 will not take place on the scheduled date.

The Commission requires an additional 10-month technical preparation period, beginning on 31 May 2026, to ensure elections meet all constitutional, legal, technical, and security standards.

During this period, the NEC said it will focus on completing essential technical tasks, including:

Finalizing all voter registration-related technical processes, improving the quality and accuracy of voter data, and modernizing registration equipment and procedures.

Preparing and implementing all operational requirements necessary for the successful conduct of the Parliamentary and Local Council elections, in line with Somaliland’s Constitution, national laws, and internationally recognized electoral standards.

Commitment to Electoral Integrity:

The NEC emphasized that the decision was based on legal responsibility, technical necessity, and national interest, with the primary aim of safeguarding the integrity, transparency, and credibility of the electoral process.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining public confidence and protecting the reputation of Somaliland’s democratic system, stressing that credible elections require adequate preparation, security, and broad stakeholder consensus.