Hargeisa (SD) – The Somaliland Electoral Commission said in a statement that candidates for the Somaliland House of Representatives and local elections could not be detained as they have immunity during the election.
Opposition parties have confirmed to the media that three of their candidates had been arrested, while others are being pursued by the government.
“The National Electoral Commission (NEC) is informing the various institutions of the country that Article 26, Paragraph 2 states that officials and candidates may not be arrested unless they are caught in the act of committing a crime.” Said the Electoral Commission in a released statement.
Adding that “Candidates on our list have immunity and cannot be arrested.”
As the election campaign began, opposition parties complained that the government had detained too many candidates.
The commission’s statement comes as several candidates in Hargeisa have been arrested by the government.
Somaliland will hold the long awaited local council and parliamentary elections on May 31st.
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