HARGEISA (SD) – Somaliland’s political parties have concluded the nomination of their candidates who will run for the councillorship seats across the nation ahead of the general election late next month.

The Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) has this week announced that its staff finished the registration of the candidates for local elections.

According to the agency, about 521 candidates from the three political parties namely Kulmiye, Waddani and UCID will be contesting to wrest 220 seats.

The poll agency said 139 candidates from the parties were disqualified after the individuals failed to fulfill the requirements set by the commission.

According to the Commission, more than 1,200,000 voters were registered across Somaliland.

For the first in more than a decade Somaliland is expected to hold its parliamentary and local district elections this year after they (elections) were delayed several times.

The last parliamentary election was held in 2005.

Located in the north of what used to be Somalia, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in May 1991 but has since not garnered internal support for recognition.