Mahdi M. Gulaid, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, met several traditional elders from Somaliland to discuss elections and other pertinent issues.
Gulaid’s meeting with the elders took place on November 8.
Lately, there has been an intense debate regarding the role of government-appointed electoral commissioners in Somaliland.
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has been accused of appointing commissioners who fail the test of impartiality to elect Members of Parliament from Somaliland.
Speaker Abdi Hashi of the Upper House has led the chorus of condemnation against FGS.
Gulaid’s meeting with the Somaliland elders was partly organized to resolve any differences they might have with the commissioners or the electoral procedure.
In Sunday’s meeting, Gulaid and the elders also shared lunch together.
The Deputy Prime Minister assured them that the election of legislators from Somaliland would take place in a “stable, free, and fair manner.”