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Hargeysa,
Somaliland, August 29, 2009 (SL Times) – Faisal Ali Warabe, the leader
of Somaliland’s second largest opposition party, Justice and Welfare
party, known by its Somali acronym, UCID, has warned, in an interview
with the BBC Somali Service that if president Rayale’s term of office is
extended this time around there will be a nationwide revolt against the
government.
Faisal said the country will enter an uncharted territory because it is
not clear from the text of the constitution as to what will happen if
the presidential election fails to take place on 27 September as
scheduled and the president’s term of office subsequently expires in
October.
Faisal said Rayale has reached a dead end in his presidential term
extensions and that there is no other option available for him and his
vice-president.
He said president Rayale cannot invoke article 83 of the constitution
because of security considerations. He should be ashamed of himself for
the current political morass which he precipitated and should face the
reality, he added.
He disclosed that the Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Dr. Tekeda Alemu, accompanied by European delegation from donor
countries will return back to the country.
Faisal said whilst most of the issues have been resolved the most vexing
question that remains unanswered is who will replace the president and
vice-president once their term expires since they cannot invoke article
83 this time around. He ruled out any further extension of presidential
term as that would be “impossible” because the public have no stomach
for it.
Article 83, Clause 5 of the constitution states that “if on the expiry
of the term of office of the President and the Vice-President, it is not
possible, because of security considerations, to hold the election of
the President and the Vice-President, the House of Elders shall extend
their term of office whilst taking into consideration the period in
which the problems can be overcome and the election can be held”.
“The President and Vice-President cannot invoke article 83 because there
are no existing security considerations. In the past, it was the
opposition that made compromises and acquiesced with the president to
have his term of office extended but this time he should accept the
brutal reality that all party leaders will contest on a level playing
field,” Faisal told the BBC.
Faisal said that the opposition is united in their standpoint.
Source: Somaliland Globe
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