Hiiraan Online
Friday, March 06, 2015
HARGEISA (HOL)---The decision to postpone Somaliland breakaway region's elections scheduled for June by the government has met criticism by opposition parties as political mood shifted in the region that saw peaceful political transitions since it's establishment in 1991.
Joining their political forces, opposition parties censured the government's decision, calling it not to hold elections behind schedule.
In a press release issued after a press conference held in Hargeisa on Thursday, the opposition parties warned the government would lose its legitimacy should It go ahead with the elections delay decision.
"The government lacks any reasonable justification and whatsoever like security challenges, diseases, earthquakes etc to delay the elections," the statement said.
"Therefore, we call for the electoral commission to reschedule the elections date as soon as possible." It added.
The opposition parties called the developments as a serious setback for democracy in the region which escaped the two decades civil war in Somalia.
The reactions by the opposition parties underscore a major political maneuver against 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 efforts for an international recognition hasn't so far accomplished success.