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Another term extension: Somaliland extends Parliament and Council terms
28 April, 2026
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Another term extension: Somaliland extends Parliament and Council terms by 27 Months
A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Hargeisa on November 13, 2024, during the Somaliland presidential election. © LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images.
News Staff
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Somaliland’s House of Elders (Guurti) on Tuesday approved a 27-month extension of the terms of local councils and the House of Representatives, extending their mandates by more than two years.
The extension, which had been under discussion for some time, follows the government’s announcement that it had formed a technical committee to advise on the scheduling of elections for local councils and parliament, whose terms were due to end in May.
In February, the National Electoral Commission (Somaliland) announced that the planned joint elections for local councils and the House of Representatives would not take place on their scheduled date of 31/05/2026. The reasons cited included “security concerns, technical challenges, and drought conditions.” The Commission requested a 10-month extension.
In his annual address, Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, acknowledged the “risks posed by delays,” stating that “delays in elections pose a threat to democracy, political stability, and the international reputation of Somaliland. At a time when the world is paying attention to our existence, such delays are even more damaging.” He added that his government “has made significant efforts to ensure that the elections for the House of Representatives and local councils are held on time.” Despite these reassurances, Irro reiterated the concerns raised by the Electoral Commission in its request for a 10-month extension.
“After extensive consultations and discussions with stakeholders, it was agreed that the decision should be left to the National Electoral Commission, which is legally mandated to handle such technical matters. However, I urge that the technical timeframe proposed by the Commission be respected,” Irro said.
Over the past two decades, Somaliland has established a reputation for holding regular elections, a notable achievement in a region often characterized by democratic backsliding and electoral crises. These elections have generally been praised by observers for their relatively orderly conduct and have become one of Somaliland’s most prominent claims to democratic legitimacy. Somaliland’s Political leaders frequently point to the territory’s electoral record, alongside its relatively peaceful transfers of power, as evidence of a functioning democratic system that distinguishes Somaliland from much of the surrounding region.
Despite this progress, Somaliland’s electoral process has been consistently challenged by delays. In many cases, scheduled elections have been postponed, leading to extensions of incumbent terms. This pattern has affected nearly all major elections, including presidential, parliamentary, and local council polls. While such delays are often attributed to logistical, financial, or political constraints, they have raised concerns about the strength of Somaliland’s democratic institutions and their capacity to hold elections on time.
