Hargeysa, March 9, 2009 (Somaliland Globe) — The opposition political parties are calling the Parliament to convene a national conference on the future of the country. The opposition call follows the fourth postponement of the presidential election by the National Election Commission (NEC) within the last 12 months.

The opposition parties strongly opposed any talk of postponement or extension of term for Riyale and his UDUB party as unconstitutional.

The NEC’s sudden announcement that it will not be able to hold the election on the planned date, came barely a month before the election date. A week later the chairman of the NEC said they re-scheduled the election date to 31th May. These NEC decisions were made public before political parties were consulted. A KULMIYE party official in London told the Somaliland Globe “These late and unilateral announcements have become a standard” for the NEC.

He expressed frustration that “they never make any decisions that they had not previously discussed with Riyale’s government. The same is not true when it comes to the opposition”.

Riyale was elected for a five year term on 14th April, 2003 which ended last year. At that time the election was postponed to the end of August 2008 and his term was controversially extended by the Guurti drawing almost a unanimous condemnation from the opposition parties and the public.

The election date was postponed for a second time to 31th December, 2008. The NEC again postponed the election for a third time to March of this year which they now say it will not be possible.

All three political parties submitted the names of their candidates to the NEC by early February. The two opposition parties, KULMIYE and UCID also say they fulfilled all the requirements and are ready for the election.

The NEC has in the past been accused of lack of neutrality between the political parties. Five of its 7 members were appointed by Riyale, while the other two were appointed by the opposition.  The opposition also accuse the NEC of ignoring UDUB’s misuse of government controlled media and properties to advance its political campaign. Within the last two months Riyale’s ministers intensified their attacks on the opposition through the government controlled media accusing them of inciting violence.

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