HARGEISA (SD) – Total results of Somaliland parliamentary and local council elections is due to be announced in the forthcoming hours, the poll agency confirmed Tuesday, saying only four ballot boxes are needed to be counted.

Speaking to the media in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland, National Elections Commission chairman Abdirashid Ali said the agency is only waiting for the ballot boxes that were not collected due to transport challenge.

He noted that the vehicles that had been dispatched to collect the ballot boxes developed mechanical problems.

“The vehicles that were sent to the scene were damaged before they reached the scene, so another replacement vehicle was sent, all the others arrived at their bases,” the commission chairman said.

Somaliland on Monday held its long-awaited parliamentary and local elections which had been facing delay for the past one decade.

246 candidates from the country’s three political parties are running for 82 parliamentary seats with 966 others seek to secure 249 district municipality offices.

Taiwan, a close ally of Hargesa has commended the elections, saying It is impressive to go to the polling station to see the Somaliland people to vote for peace.

Somaliland, a former British protectorate in northwestern Somalia, declared independence in 1991 from the rest of the Horn of Africa country after the collapse of Siad Barre’s military government.