HARGEISA, Somaliland (HornPost) — Kaah Party Chairman Mohamud Hashi Abdi says his party will not obstruct Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission. He also expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to manage upcoming elections.
Hashi made the remarks during a public forum. Participants asked him about the planned 2026 parliamentary elections, the Kaah Party manifesto and challenges facing the electoral process.
He said Kaah would respect the commission’s role. The party does not have a representative among the commission’s current members.
This issue drew attention because Kaah is a relatively new political party. It did not take part in the process that shaped the current composition of the commission.
Kaah Party Expresses Confidence in Electoral Commission
Hashi said Kaah had accepted the electoral process and trusted the commission to carry out its duties.
He praised the commission’s work during previous presidential and political party elections. He added that the party would not use its lack of representation as a reason to challenge the institution.
“The Electoral Commission has done a good job. It is true that the KAAH party is a new party and does not have a member in the election committee without having anything to do with us and other organizations, we entered the election and trusted the responsibility they had. Today we will not be an obstacle to the Electoral Commission and we will not shine a light on it as we have the right to say that the Electoral Commission does not believe, but that feeling will not come from us,” Hashi said.
He said the party would allow the commission to perform its responsibilities without political obstruction.
Kaah Calls for 2026 Elections to Take Place on Time
Hashi also reaffirmed Kaah’s support for holding Somaliland’s parliamentary elections on schedule.
However, he warned that several challenges could affect preparations. He urged political stakeholders to address those issues early.
The chairman said unresolved problems could create confusion later. He called for timely action to protect the election timetable.
“We as the Kaah party believe that the elections should be held on time, but we see many challenges facing the election that need to be resolved and cannot be hidden from the eyes and if they are not entered before and put in place, they will come out later, causing confusion in the holding of the election on time,” he said.
Hashi’s remarks highlighted the need for early planning. They also pointed to the importance of dialogue among political parties and electoral institutions.
Chairman Highlights Challenges Facing Women in Elections
During the forum, Hashi also discussed barriers to women’s participation in elections.
He pointed to cultural attitudes that favour male leadership. Such attitudes can limit support for women candidates and affect their chances of political representation.
“One of the key challenges of women in the elections are When Women are not voting women candidates are also deep-rooted cultural norms that favor male leadership,” he said.
His comments highlighted two important aspects of women’s participation: voting and standing as candidates. They also drew attention to the influence of social expectations on women’s representation in politics.
President and Political Parties Expected to Discuss Elections
Hashi said the Somaliland president and national political parties were expected to hold consultations on the upcoming elections.
He described dialogue between the government and political parties as an important step. Such discussions could help address electoral concerns and improve preparations.
The proposed meeting could also give political stakeholders an opportunity to discuss outstanding challenges. These include the election timetable and confidence in the electoral system.
The 2026 parliamentary elections formed a central part of the forum’s discussions. Participants also considered the responsibilities of political parties and the National Electoral Commission.
HornPost Staff Reporter
info@hornpost.com
HARGEISA, Somaliland
