Somaliland achievements depend on holding elections in the country, without elections, the country will be losing its position in the horn region and the other world. Our prestige which we gained for the sake of the elections must be saved. This is why I am saying that Somaliland democracy has to be saved from failed political parties.The announcement of Somaliland president to establish new registration of the political parties will be the number one solution if the House of Representatives approve it. The country will move to establish new broad-based political parties and I am optimistic about the government’s plan to put the term of the current political parties forward and amend the law.
According to Somaliland Solicitor General, the president has the right to demand the amendment of law known as “the regulation of the political associations and parties law”. Opening the registration of the new political parties will be an opportunity for all Somalilanders and will be a chance to avoid the clan based political parties while we will have new political parties that are obedient to the law and the constitution of Somaliland.
Conducting an amendment for regulation of the political associations and parties’ law is just to end the deadlock of the political parties which made our Somaliland stability to be at a rocky path. Currently, the political situation turned into a risk where the political opposition parties are threatening for the president after pledging to open new political organizations in his annual address to the houses of parliament and underlined that it would be the only solution to end the long-standing conflict in Somaliland’s elections.
I do call for Somalilanders to save their country from failed political parties otherwise the country’s stability and peace could be in jeopardy. Thanks to the president for coming up the vision of opening the closed gate for the new political associations since we are losing our prestige in the world which made Somaliland an oasis of stability in the horn of Africa region. This is the time that a regime change in the leadership of the political parties in country has to be legally done in order to save the democratization process that Somaliland has gained in the past thirty years since the people have been very fed up with political dispute between the parties in the country who did not allow anyone to have the chance of leading the existing parties.
Historically, the talks and mediations between the political parties ended insmoke because of their failure to come up with a consensus and currently, to open the registration of the new political associations is an important issue for all of us. The general public in somehow welcomed the opening of the new registration for the political parties whereby some politicians already announced their willingness and ambition to form new political associations after they have been confused by the way the current ones are behaving. Now it is up to the old political parties to resist the change and qualify as an approved political party.
Last but not least, the people are pleased to take part in the new organizations if the House of Representatives conduct the needed amendment of the law. It will restore the hopes and confidence for many young politicians in the political platforms who can save the democratization process of Somaliland. Let us all save our country from failed political parties.
By: Muse Jeeh, a freelance writer based in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
He can be reached at Majeex2004@hotmail.com.