The Somaliland Non-State Actors Forum (SONSAF), speaking on behalf of its members, Thursday, highlighted challenges which lay ahead that needed to be seriously considered for parliamentary and municipal council elections to happen on time.
The CSOs downplayed the importance of changing or not changing the current electoral commissioners which, thus far and especially to Waddani party, had been a sore point which nixed all attempts to bridge the gap among political parties.
SONSAF, in a statement signed by Chairman Anwar Warsame, on the same token, expressed hope that outstanding differences will be solved, commending the ongoing efforts and goodwill shown by the parties to finally push obstacles impeding a smooth ride to the polls at the end of the year aside.
SONSAF wrote:
Somaliland civil society commends the ongoing initiatives aimed at brokering a deal among the political parties of the country. Somaliland CSOs are persuading political Party leaders to reach a lasting solution on the contentious issues to pave the way for the much-delayed elections of the House of Representatives and Local councillors to be held on December 2019.Somaliland CSOs are reminding Party leaders the importance of holding periodic and timely elections in the Democratization process of the country and Somaliland’s status as a genuine and credible democratic country that upholds the rule of law.Somaliland CSOs underline that Somaliland citizens will not accept any further unconstitutional extension of terms for the legislatures and local councillors; therefore, we are calling the leaders of the parties to make the necessary compromises needed.Somaliland CSOs believe more challenging obstacles than the future of NEC are ahead and needs to be solved for the elections to take place. Issues like the allocation of the seats of the House to the six regions of the country, enactment of the regional and district demarcation law, ratification of the election consolidated bill, allocation of specific Quota to women and the minority groups in Somaliland, securing of election funds among others need collaboration, commitment and bold decisions from the President and the Parliament.Finally, Somaliland CSOs are encouraging political parties to make the necessary compromises needed for the sake of the country that we all love.Anwar Abdirahman Warsame
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