By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 1 February 2026 Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission on Sunday announced a 10-month delay to parliamentary and local council elections scheduled for May 31, citing widespread drought, security concerns and technical challenges related to voter registration.
In a statement, the commission said the elections for the House of Representatives and local councils will not be held as planned because conditions in place cannot ensure a free, fair and credible vote.
“The commission conducted a comprehensive assessment of the country’s situation and identified major challenges that directly affect the feasibility of holding credible elections,” it said.
Among the challenges cited were severe drought across large parts of the self-declared republic, which has caused widespread displacement, particularly in rural areas, disrupting preparations for voter registration.
The commission also pointed to security issues in some regions and political disagreements over aspects of the voter registration process, which it said had prolonged preparations and complicated election planning.
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The electoral commission said it would require an additional 10 months from May 31 to complete technical, legal and security preparations necessary for the polls.
During that period, the commission said it would finalise voter registration processes, improve the quality of voter data, modernise registration equipment and procedures, and complete all remaining preparations needed to conduct elections in line with the constitution, national laws and international standards.
The commission said the decision was taken under its constitutional and legal mandate, including powers granted by the national elections and voter registration law, and was aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and maintaining public confidence.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised, has generally been praised for holding regular elections, though polls have frequently faced delays in recent years due to political and logistical disputes.
