Term Extensions Are Not Merely an Issue of Time: They Are a Political Disease Threatening the Nation's Stability
- Dr. Abdiweli Soufi Jibril
- Apr 29
- 3 min read
Any term extension that occurs in Somaliland is not an issue that can simply be measured in years and months, nor is it merely a delayed election. It is a clear symptom of a political disease deeply embedded in the nation's system of governance; a disease that destroys the fundamental meaning of constitutional term limits for elected offices, allowing an official to remain in power far longer than the law intended. This directly undermines the public's devotion to and trust in the state and the democratic system of the country.
The peace and stability of Somaliland are not built on a mighty military force, massive economic wealth, or full international recognition. It stands on an asset far more valuable than all of those combined: the trust and devotion the people of Somaliland have for their system of governance.
The backbone of that trust is the citizen's belief that political power is attained through elections and transferred via the ballot box. Therefore, if elections become an event that is constantly delayed, and term limits become something that can be easily extended to whatever duration is desired, the political trust the public has granted to the existing system will be severely damaged.
The Guurti and Somaliland's Democratic System
Today, a difficult question presents itself: "Does the House of Elders (Guurti) stand to protect and salvage the nation's system of governance, or has it become an institution that sabotages the democratic process and the existing political stability?"
Another undeniable reality is that the seats in the House of Elders have turned into an inheritance passed down from parent to child, which is a disgrace and a stain on modern governance that operates on a democratic system. Therefore, how can an inherited member who never faces an election possess the power to dictate the constitutional right of the public to choose who represents them?
The Political Question Facing Somaliland
The real question facing Somaliland is not: How long has the election been delayed? Rather, it is: To what extent will an unelected body have the power to dictate the constitutional rights of the nation without regard for anyone else?
The President of Somaliland and His Administration
The President of Somaliland and his administration are facing a heavy political test: how will they respond to a term extension that breaks their numerous promises that "there will be no more term extensions in the country."
The Waddani party spent a long time criticizing the Kulmiye administrations for term extensions and election delays. The government it has formed has failed that very test and is now facing the exact issues it used to criticize when it was in the opposition.
The Looming Threat to the Somaliland Nation
The danger of constant term extensions does not bring about immediate chaos and instability. The true danger it brings is the slow and unnoticed death of the public's devotion and trust in the political system of the country.
This is especially true for Somaliland's youth, Gen Z, the generation under 30. This generation lives in an interconnected world, exchanging vast amounts of information, constantly making comparisons, and holding political expectations far higher than previous generations.
This generation wants political hope, political accountability, jobs, services, a modernized national leadership, and a system where they can see their vote produce a visible result.
If the perception takes hold that seats are retained through term extensions, political inheritance, and backroom deals where a select few can shape elections, it will lead to the alienation of the younger generation from the governance system. That alienation is a direct threat to the stability and politics of the country.
Conclusion
The danger carried by a term extension is not whether it delays the election by 10 months, 17 months, or 27 months. The danger is the direction this extension steers the country's politics and the mistrust it breeds.
Therefore, if the politicians and the elite of Somaliland do not reach an immediate solution to what is called the "Term Extension," it is evident that unforeseen dangers could emerge, the resolution of which will be incredibly difficult.
As stated by the former Minister of Telecommunications and Technology of Somaliland, Dr. Abdiweli Abdillahi Soufi, who authored and released this piece.
