Hargeisa (Horn post) The President of the Republic of Somaliland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), on Tuesday held a high-level consultative meeting with the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the senior leadership of Somaliland’s three national political parties—WADDANI, KAAH, and KULMIYE—to discuss the status and preparedness of the upcoming parliamentary and local council elections.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the meeting focused on information-sharing and consultations regarding the Parliamentary (House of Representatives) and Local Council elections, which were originally scheduled to take place on 31 May 2026.
President Irro thanked the National Electoral Commission and the leaders of the three political parties for attending the meeting, emphasizing the importance of inclusive dialogue among national stakeholders on the timing, conditions, and modalities necessary to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
During the meeting, the President conveyed the NEC’s official assessment that the elections scheduled for 31 May 2026 cannot be held as planned due to a range of technical, security, and humanitarian challenges. The Commission informed participants that it requires an additional 10-month technical preparation period, starting from 31 May 2026, to adequately organize the elections.
Reasons for the Delay:
The National Electoral Commission cited several key obstacles affecting the electoral process, including:
Widespread drought across all regions of the country, which has caused displacement and migration among rural communities.
Security challenges in certain areas, affecting election logistics and voter access.
Prolonged political disagreements among national parties regarding the type of voter registration system, which has significantly delayed preparations.
NEC Preparations During the Extension Period:
The NEC stated that during the proposed 10-month period, it plans to undertake critical technical preparations, including:
Finalizing all technical requirements for voter registration:
Improving the quality and accuracy of voter data and modernizing voter registration equipment.
Completing preparations for and conducting the Parliamentary and Local Council elections.
Political Party Positions:
The statement noted that the national political parties hold divergent views regarding the NEC’s decision. The KAAH Party has taken a firm stance opposing the Commission’s decision, while WADDANI and KULMIYE have expressed support and adopted a unified position backing the NEC’s assessment.
Call for Unity and Government Commitment:
President Irro underscored the need for national unity and political consensus, particularly at a sensitive time following recent international developments, amid what he described as heightened external pressure and security concerns facing Somaliland.
The President further assured political stakeholders that the government is fully committed to financing all costs related to voter registration and the organization of the Parliamentary and Local Council elections.
Conclusion:
In closing, President Irro emphasized the importance of resolving political differences through dialogue and consensus-based solutions, to ensure elections that are inclusive, transparent, credible, and conducted peacefully, in line with Somaliland’s democratic traditions.
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Prepared by:
Horn post staff reporter
Hargeisa Somaliland
