Somaliland, council of elders to be extended

[facklexm]

HARGEYSA, 16 May (IRIN) - A row is simmering between the government and opposition parties in the self-declared republic of Somaliland after the term of office of the council of elders - which functions as the upper house of parliament - was extended.

 

Somaliland's president, Dahir Riyale Kahin, proposed last week that the term of the current "house of elders", should run until October 2010, a proposal that the constitutional court endorsed. The term of the current house of elders, whose function is mainly advisory, was due to end in October 2006.

 

Kahin said Somaliland, the northeastern region of Somalia that declared itself a separate state following the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, could not afford another election, having held presidential, municipal and parliamentary polls during the past three years. He also argued that proposed legislation changing the electoral procedure of the house of elders was not yet ready.

 

The elders, who approved the decision to extend their term, review laws passed by the lower house before they receive Kahin's approval. They also have special responsibility for passing laws on security, religion and culture.

 

Opposition parties have expressed strong disapproval of the decision to extend the council of elders' mandate, saying it was unconstitutional.

 

"We were utterly shocked to learn of the extension. Neither us [the two opposition parties] nor the electoral commission was consulted. Our hands are now tied because the constitutional court has already reached a decision hence hampering our efforts to counter the move," said Yusuf Mohammed Guled, acting chairman of the Justice and Welfare party.

 

Kulmiye (Unity) party chairman, Ahmed Mohammed "Silanyo" said the house of representatives should instead have been allowed to decide the fate of their counterparts at the house of elders.

 

"The move by the government is something similar to a coup and it will negatively affect the function of the House of Representatives," he said.

 

The electoral commission said the matter should be dealt with by the legislature, the executive and political parties. "At the moment the house of elders electoral law is not in place. Therefore, the commission has no definite role to play with regard to this matter," Ahmed Ali Godir, the commission's acting chairman, said in a statement.

 

Eight organisers of an "anti-extension" demonstration were arrested as they led people in a protest on Sunday in Allaybadhe district, 75 km from Hargeysa, Somaliland's capital.

 

Local analysts here said the government bypassed the House of Representatives because it did not want to get embroiled in a controversial debate in a parliament controlled by a coalition of two opposition parties.