Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
British Ambassador to Somalia Harriet Mathews
HARGEISA (HOL) – The British government has warned that further delays in holding the upcoming presidential elections in the breakaway northern Somalia republic of Somaliland would tarnish the image and reputation of the enclave often referred as an oasis of peace in the volatile region.
The development comes amid concerns raised by Somaliland’s main opposition parties that accused the government of president Ahmed Silanyo of seeking a new ‘unconstitutional’ term extension and postpone the presidential election which is set to take place in March 17 next year.
“The British government’s stand towards the election is clear; any further delay in holding elections will hurt the confidence and reputation of Somaliland” UK ambassador to Somalia Harriet Mathews told reporters in Hargeisa Tuesday.
“And promises have been made to hold a timely presidential election; and we are of course expecting the government to keep that promise.” She said after holding separate talks with members of the ruling party in the capital Hargeisa.
Last week, Somaliland government has affirmed it would hold the upcoming presidential election ‘in accordance with the planned schedule’.
The government had earlier announced it would hold the presidential election on March 17 next year, rescheduling the timetable from its initial date of July 2016, leading to subsequent protests by opposition parties that have since boycotted the election.
Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia has declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991; however, no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.