Somaliland extends mandate term of parliament by two years

Somaliland House of elders “Guurti” has extended the parliament term also known as the House of Representatives for two years on Sunday.

The Guurti also used the special sitting to extended its own term for three more years.

The representatives of the Somaliland House of elders which is equivalent to the senate and the parliament extended their mandate for the six times before.

The two haven’t been to elections since 2005 which translates to five terms without polls.

The term extension announced on Saturday morning comes at a time of heightened political tensions in the self-declared state of Somaliland.

The supporters of the main opposition party, Wadani clashed with the police last week when party leader, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi was denied entry into Wadani headquarters in Hargeysa.

The move followed after two senior officials of the party were arrested by the police.

The tension was later defused following intervention by the local respected traditional leaders.