Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Speaker of the House of Elders, Saleban Mohamud
HARGEISA (HOL)---Somaliland's House of Elders speaker says the breakaway region in northern Somalia delayed the election that were set for the next month, extending the term of the president for an indifinite
period.
Speaking to the reporters upon his return from overseas trip on Monday, Saleban Mohamud cited unfinished work for the reasons behind the election's postponement, saying the region cannot remain without
government until the election time comes.
He dismissed opposition parties' protest of the election delays, terming it as 'exaggerated'. "The cries we are hearing are extravagant exaggerations - everything will be alright." he said. His remarks come at a time Somaliland's parliament is expected to extend term for president Ahmed Silanyo, despite international and
domestic criticism.
In an attempt to defuse the political crisis, the UK ambassador to Ethiopia has met political stakeholders in Hargeisa last week, warning of an imminent term extension for the president.
Opposition parties accuse the government of making unilateral unconstitutional decisions, however, the government dismissed their claims as 'groundless.
The reactions by the opposition parties highlight challenges facing the government led by Ahmed Silanyo as his rival parties urged dissolving the two upper houses, accusing them of failing to perform their duties as planned.
Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia has declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, however, its attempts to gain an international recognition hasn't so far accomplished success.