Move fast to hold elections in 2020, UN envoy tells Somaliland
UN head in Somalia James Swan has called on authorities in Somaliland to expedite the process to hold parliamentary elections in 2020 even though the life of parliament was extended for three years last year.
Speaking today during a visit to Hargeisa, Swan said it was imperative that the elections be held in time and also lauded dialogue by stakeholders to prepare elections this year.
” We encourage rapid progress to complete all necessary steps for Somaliland to hold parliamentary elections in 2020,” Swan said. “We welcome the inter-party dialogue and urge implementation of the recent agreements that would enable preparations for elections to be held in 2020.”
RELATED COVERAGE: Hold elections before end of 2020, UN tells Somaliland
Parliament for life? Somaliland Upper House does it again
Somaliland parliament approved a proposal last November to extend the terms of the Upper and Lower Houses. The unanimous vote saw the Upper House (Guurti) get three more years and the Lower House twoyears. The extension effectively meant Somaliland parliament would be in business for 17 straight years without elections.
A similar call by the UN and other international partners went unheeded in 2017 and several delays have been witnessed since then.
The UN envoy also called on Somaliland government to respect freedom of speech and assembly ‘as well as the ability of political parties to organise and function.’
Swan lauded efforts to finding lasting peace in the disputed areas of Sool and Sanaag which led to bloodshed when Somaliland and Puntland forces fought in Tukaraq.