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Somaliland Elections Postponed

The Somaliland National Electoral Commission has announced that parliamentary and local council elections cannot be held on their scheduled date, citing challenges related to drought, security conditions, and political disagreements over voter registration.

The Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) has announced that it will not be able to conduct the parliamentary and local council elections at the previously scheduled time in May of this year.


The Commission has formally requested a ten-month extension starting from May 31, 2026, in order to complete outstanding preparatory tasks. This would set the new election date at March 31, 2027.


The request will be submitted to the President of Somaliland, who will then forward it to the House of Elders (Guurti) for consideration.


Somaliland Electoral Commission, Somaliland Elections, Somaliland NEC


PRESS STATEMENT


The National Electoral Commission of the Republic of Somaliland (NEC) hereby formally informs the people of the Republic of Somaliland, government institutions, political parties, civil society organizations, and all electoral stakeholders that the elections for the House of Representatives and Local Councils, which were previously scheduled for May 31, 2026, are now less than four (4) months away.


In accordance with its constitutional mandate and legal authority, as outlined in the General Law on National Elections and Voter Registration (Law No. 91/2023), particularly the provisions assigning the Commission responsibility for setting election timelines and ensuring that all legal, technical, and security requirements are met prior to any election, the NEC has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the current national situation.

Following an in-depth review of the overall conditions in the Republic of Somaliland, the Commission has determined that there are significant challenges that directly affect the feasibility of holding free, fair, and credible elections at the scheduled time. These challenges include:

  • Widespread drought affecting several regions of the country, leading to large-scale displacement, particularly among rural populations, which has directly disrupted preparations for voter registration.

  • Security concerns in certain parts of the country, which require full consideration before the implementation of electoral activities.

  • Political disagreements regarding the type and methodology of voter registration, which have taken considerable time to resolve and have negatively impacted the previously established electoral timetable.


In light of the relevant legal provisions and the prevailing circumstances, the National Electoral Commission of the Republic of Somaliland has decided as follows:

  • That the elections for the House of Representatives and Local Councils scheduled for May 31, 2026, cannot be held on that date.

  • That the NEC requires an additional ten (10) months from May 31, 2026, on technical grounds, to enable the conduct of elections that meet all legal, technical, and security requirements.


During this extended period, the NEC will undertake the following:

  • Completion of all technical matters related to voter registration, including improving the quality of voter data and modernizing registration equipment and procedures.

  • Preparation and implementation of all necessary activities required to conduct the elections for the House of Representatives and Local Councils in full compliance with the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland, national laws, and international standards.


The NEC emphasizes that this decision is based on a thorough legal and technical assessment and a sense of national responsibility. Its objective is to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, maintain public confidence, and protect the credibility of the democratic system of the Republic of Somaliland.


All praise is due to Allah.

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