Riyaale gets 6 months Extension

[Captain24]

HARGEISA, Somalia Mar 28 (Garowe Online) - The leader of Somalia's breakaway state of Somaliland received a term extension Saturday, in a vote that is likely to deepen the region's ongoing election crisis, Radio Garowe reports.

Somaliland's upper house of parliament, the House of Guurti, held an extraordinary session in the regional capital Hargeisa, with 79 MPs present including Guurti Chairman Saleban "Gal" Mohamud.

The House of Guurti/Mar 28
Some 20 Guurti MPs offered heated speeches, introducing two opposite motions.

The first motion indicated that the administration of President Dahir Riyale's term in office expires on April 6, arguing that there is "no emergency" such as war, drought or other natural disaster to warrant another delay of the much-expected presidential election.

This motion's supporters accused President Riyale of failing to hold elections on time, while calling for the establishment of a caretaker government to rule Somaliland until the election.

Outside the Somaliland Parliament/Mar 28
The second motion stated that the Somaliland election commission could not organize the election on time, citing the Oct. 2008 suicide bombings in Hargeisa that targeted the office of President Riyale among others.

Further, the pro-Riyale lawmakers in the House of Guurti argued that there is an ongoing drought in some regions of Somaliland, saying that the current government should receive a term extension to overcome such challenges.

Mr. Saleban Gal, the Guurti Chairman, then said the lawmakers would vote on the political future of Riyale's government.

Outside the Somaliland Parliament/Mar 28
"Of the present lawmakers, 42 MPs voted to extend the term for the President and the Vice President, 35 MPs rejected the vote, 1 MP abstained and I did not vote," the Guurti Chairman announced

As the chairman declared the vote results, his two deputies – Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Nur and Said Abdullahi – sat next to him.

The new election date was set for October 29, 2009, giving the Riyale administration time to complete the voter-registration process.

Somaliland opposition parties Kulmiye and UCID have not formally responded to President Riyale's term extension.

But Mr. Ahmed Silanyo, the Kulmiye party's presidential candidate and the opposition leader, has vowed not to recognize Riyale's government after April 6.

Security was extra tight in and around the parliament building in Hargeisa, as police and military units kept close watch as the House of Guurti held its most important vote to date.

In 2008, Guurti MPs voted in favor of extending Riyale's constitutional five-year term in office by one additional year, with opposition parties accepting the term extension on grounds that the presidential election be held on March 29, 2009.

Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, vowing to establish a peaceful and democratic government.

Critics say Somaliland's democratic image has been severely tarnished by election delays and the overall lack of press freedom, including a ban on independent radio stations

[Captain24]

I don't get it. Th head of the Guurti who's Habar Jeclo is approving extension for riyaale? Is this guy a puppet or what?

[hanqadh]

who gives a FUK about sland...let them do whatever they want.

[The_Emperior5]

its not about habarjeclo or qabil somaliland qabil way ka gudubtay sxb meesha ma mejeerteniya baad moodaysa

the house of lords ayaa codeyee its not his decision.

[Keyse_0208]

Riaale miyuu kuwasaa..?

[abdikarim86]

my dad was saying this morning

riyaale got the extension on the back of harti and HY

nways captain why do you care

[Executive]

watch the fight in the parliament

[Captain24]

Somalialnders, jokes aside, This is news, and I merely reporting it, why are you guys in my case(Keyse and abdikarim)?

[Keyse_0208]

Cap lol... waan kaawaalayaa man relax....Executive u call that a fight... come on man this what a parliment fight looks like

[Executive]

Keyse, My point exactly you are just as uncivilised as the Xamar warlords like Yalaxow

[Captain24]

You gota admit that Nairobi brawl was embarrassing. Grow elders fighting with chairs? hoyadiin wasa dheh

[Keyse_0208]

u Wrong son... Muran and Fight are 2 different cases.. laakin throwing chairs like its a somali rave, now thats uncivilise

[The_Emperior5]

Keyse, My point exactly you are just as uncivilised as the Xamar warlords like Yalaxow

labba qoff oo madax isku dhuftay ceeb maha sxb


laakin waxa ceeb ah gurii barlamaan nairyobi oo wadankaagi ba ahayn inad isku diishid
walawenta qashinka kuraasi bay isla dhaceen every one fought

laakin labbadii nin eeh isku xanaaqay barlamaanka hargeysa wala kala qabtay ciid kursii isku tuurtay ma jiirin siida walanweynta bila caqliga ah ee keeniya isku diilay

kuwan isku gacan saaray hargeisa gurigoodii babay joogan

[MrPrestige]

Captain habar yonis guurti and some harti voted for the extension got a problem with it?