Friday September 24, 2021
By ABDULKADIR KHALIF
Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi. Somaliland has protested against the election of its representatives to Somalia's Senate. PHOTO | FILE | AFP
Somaliland, the self-declared independent region of Somalia, has rejected plans to have Senate representatives elected to represent it the federal parliament, even as officials said the vote will go on.
On Wednesday, the region said it was not interested in having representatives in Somalia parliament and warned Somalia politicians to stop spreading “misleading information”.
“The Republic of Somaliland is advising the politicians against the false and unrealistic pronouncements that mislead the international community,” read the statement by Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Though it declared independence in 1993, Somaliland has had no formal recognition by any independent state. It runs its currency, central bank, military and the three branches of government and routinely organises its elections.
Earlier this year, it conducted local elections in which no woman was elected, raising questions on gender parity even though the vote was largely seen as credible.
Since 2016, the region’s politicians who favour unity with all of Somalia have been allowed to organise elections in which representatives are elected to join the Upper House (Senate) and the Lower House (House of the People).