Somaliland: Further Presidential Term Extension May Result in Public Revolt, Warns UCID Leader

Somaliland: Further Presidential Term Extension May Result in Public Revolt, Warns UCID Leader

LONDON, United Kingdom (Somaliland Globe)- 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. 

Somaliland Globe