Hargeisa (SD) – Sources close to the Presidency confirm that President Bihi has withdrawn from his call to reopen the establishment of political parties in the country.

The source added that the pending agreement comes as foreign diplomats had intervened in the political raw between the opposition and the president.

Nicolas Berlanga, the EU ambassador to Somalia, who brokered the deal is set to arrive Hargeisa tomorrow.

The Ambassador will meet with both parties and will suggest in ways to mitigate the electoral commission deadlock.

The Somaliland opposition Parties are opposed to the current electoral commission and have been demanding their replacement, but president Bihi, who at one point agreed to dissolve them, recently back tracked and threatened to primary the national parties.

In response, the opposition leveled harsher accusations and demanded that the presidential election be held earlier as well.

The EU ambassador has so far, according to the source, got the president not to follow through with the national party dissolvement, what is yet not clear is whether the parties will accept the legitimacy of the electoral commission.

One of Somaliland’s claims to fame was holding successful full one person one vote, but didn’t have parliamentary election since September of 2005, and municipal elections since 2012.