Somaliland’s House of Elders officially announced on Tuesday that they will be extending the term of the current House of Representatives and Local Councils by two years and three months. This extension was suggested by the government of Somaliland and the National Election Commission (NEC) in order to allow for smooth preparations for upcoming local council and parliamentary elections. The decision was approved by 71 out of 72 Parliament Members in attendance. According to the current Somaliland constitution, the House of Elders’ elections will be held one year after the extension of the House of Representatives’ term. This raises concerns that the House of Elders may exploit this decision for their own interests. The House of Elders is expected to receive a term extension of 39 months. However, there were reports that the media, particularly the free press, were not allowed to attend the crucial session at the House of Elders on Tuesday. This decision was made jointly by the Speakers of the Bicameral Parliament. The state-run media were allowed to attend, sparking criticism about the media’s ability to access information. The term extension, which exceeds the original suggestion made by the NEC, was pushed by various stakeholders and parties with vested interests. Some Members of the House of Representatives see this as an opportunity to further their political goals and potentially influence the upcoming presidential election. This could also lead to a delay in the process of choosing members of the House of Elders, which has been a controversial issue for some time. There is a strong opposition to the lengthy term extension among the public in Somaliland, with many arguing that it will harm the democratic process and erode trust in the country’s institutions. The government is also concerned about the potential negative impact on election plans and political stability, which could lead to a stronger opposition.
