Hargeisa | Somaliland (Horn post) The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), has successfully mediated a dispute between the Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the opposition KAAH Party, following disagreements over the voter registration process.
According to a statement from the Somaliland Presidency, the dispute arose after the NEC issued a decision related to voter registration procedures, particularly the option concerning the number and structure of voter registration centers. The decision prompted the KAAH Party to suspend its cooperation with the Commission.
KAAH’s Position on Voter Registration:
The KAAH Party, an opposition political party, has argued that Somaliland’s voter registration system should restart from the beginning using a new biometric database. Party officials say the current voter register dates to 2016, and that nearly a decade has passed since many voters were first registered.
According to KAAH, significant changes in voters’ physical appearance over the last ten years—including aging and other biometric variations—raise concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the existing database. The party has therefore called for a completely new voter registration process to ensure transparency, credibility, and public confidence ahead of upcoming elections.
Mediation and Agreement:
Following extensive talks led by President Irro, both the NEC and the KAAH Party agreed to formally end their differences and resume cooperation. The two sides jointly thanked the President for his role in facilitating dialogue and bringing them closer together.
As part of the agreement:
- Cooperation between the NEC and the KAAH Party has been officially restored.
- A joint technical committee made up of representatives from both sides will work on resolving the technical issues that led to the dispute.
- A follow-up meeting will be held after Eid al-Fitr to finalize remaining unresolved matters related to voter registration.
Political Context
The Somaliland Presidency reaffirmed that Somaliland has a long-established tradition of resolving political disputes through dialogue, compromise, and internal consensus, without external intervention. Analysts say the agreement helps safeguard the electoral roadmap and reduces the risk of political uncertainty ahead of future polls.
Observers note that how the voter registration issue is technically addressed will be critical to maintaining trust in Somaliland’s democratic institutions.
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Prepared by:
Horn post staff reporter
Hargeisa, Somaliland
