With long queues reported at some polling stations, voters as young as 15 in the self-declared republic of Somaliland cast their ballots in the capital Hargeisa.
In the elections — voters were tasked with choosing from nearly 250 candidates running for 82 parliamentary seats, and about 1,000 contesting 249 councilor posts.
This is the first time national and local elections were held together and with more than one million citizens registered to participate in the parliamentary and council polls — which were both long overdue,
President Muse Bihi Abdi and the leaders of Somaliland’s two opposition parties called for an orderly vote as they cast their ballots in the capital Hargeisa.
Voting was reportedly conducted in a peaceful and inclusive manner demonstrating the capacity for peaceful democratic elections in this internationally non-recognised country that declared independence from Somalia 30 years ago.
Elections for the president are held separately in Somaliland and not due until the five-year term of President Musa Bihi Abdi expires in late 2022.
Mogadishu and the leaders of Somalia’s five semi-autonomous states this month agreed to hold long-overdue elections within 60 days, after a prior timetable collapsed because of violence.
The promised vote is indirect, like in past elections, with special delegates chosen by clan leaders who pick lawmakers, who in turn choose the president.
