Kulmiye Party Denounces Guurti Term Extension, Demands Answers from the President

Gallaydh News Desk
3 days ago
3 min read

HARGEISA, Somaliland (April 29, 2026) : The opposition Kulmiye party has strongly condemned the recent decision by the Somaliland House of Elders (the Guurti) to extend the mandates of the Local Councils and the House of Representatives by 27 months. Speaking to the media, Kulmiye Chairman Mohamed Kahin Ahmed described the move as a severe blow to the reputation and democratic framework of Somaliland.

During a press conference, Chairman Mohamed Kahin presented the official resolution of the Kulmiye party regarding this extension. He detailed the stages the electoral process has gone through and the prior recommendations his party provided to the Guurti committee assigned to the matter.

Kulmiye Party Rejects Guurti’s 27-Month Extension in Somaliland

Defending the Electoral Commission's 10 Month Plan

The chairman reminded the public that the National Electoral Commission (NEC) had previously issued a clear and detailed schedule, requesting exactly 10 months to prepare for the dual elections.

"As we all know, the Electoral Commission submitted a need for 10 months, outlining the different phases of the elections. That matter was presented to us, discussed in a meeting hosted by the president, and subsequently forwarded to the House of Elders, which the constitution authorizes to make term extensions," Mohamed Kahin stated.

He noted that just days ago, Kulmiye met with the advisory committee appointed by the Guurti and submitted their official written position. Kulmiye's recommendation was to fully respect the commission's request, as the NEC is the constitutional body mandated to manage elections under Article 91. The party advised that the Guurti should only approve the 10 month period requested by the responsible agency.

The Crucial Question: Who Requested 27 Months?

The most weighty point raised by Chairman Mohamed Kahin was the glaring discrepancy between the widely agreed upon request and the final decision issued by the Guurti. He clarified that the national parties and the government had initially agreed on the NEC's 10 month timeframe.

"It is true that the House of Elders has the authority to extend terms, and there is no dispute there. But the question at hand is, who requested 27 months? Did the national parties ask for it? Did the government headed by the president ask for it? Or did someone else approach the Guurti?" the chairman asked.

He stated categorically that the Kulmiye party did not request such a lengthy period, confirming that both the ruling party and the president had previously agreed to the proposed 10 months. "If those 10 months were agreed upon, and we were the stakeholders, and the responsible agency requested exactly that amount, we must ask where the 27 months came from," he added.

A Call to the President

Finally, the Kulmiye chairman placed the responsibility on the President of Somaliland to clarify his stance on this unexpected decision to the public.

The Kulmiye party believes this extension is an affront to Somaliland's democratic process and public trust, as it contradicts both the technical advice of the electoral commission and the consensus of the election stakeholders.

"This term extension violates our democratic system. The president is expected to clarify his position on this matter," Mohamed Kahin Ahmed concluded.

This firm stance by Kulmiye introduces a new dynamic to the national political debate, with all eyes now on the government to see how it will respond to the allegations and explain the vast difference between the known request and the Guurti's final decision.

The Opposition Divide: Kulmiye Blames the Guurti, KAAH Absolves Them

Political analysis of this event also highlights a significant widening gap between the two main opposition parties. Unlike the KAAH party, which completely lifted the blame from the House of Elders, the Kulmiye party directly pointed the finger at the Guurti for deviating from the law and the advice they were given.

While KAAH Chairman Mahmoud Hashi Abdi recently stated that the Guurti bears no blame for the decision but was simply handed a project already ruined by the Waddani government and the Kulmiye party, Mohamed Kahin sees the Guurti as the source of this new crisis for creating a 27 month extension that nobody asked for.

This divergence shows that the opposition parties lack a unified understanding and strategy to counter the political situation in the country. Kulmiye places the problem squarely on the decision of the Guurti and the government, whereas KAAH is looking to build a strategic relationship with the Guurti by shifting the blame entirely onto Kulmiye and the government.