Taleh and Baligubadle districts might see an increase in the number of local government members.
This follows an announcement that the government is re-evaluating the district level of of Taleeh, Baligubadle and Ainabo which are currently classified as C level.
The intent to re-evaluate was revealed by the minister of Interior Mohamed Kahin in a ministerial decree released in Hargeisa which is per the orders of Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi
According to the decree the assessment report shall be submitted to parliament’s House of Representatives for either approval of elevation or retention of current status of the three districts grade.
Upon re-evaluation, by the Ministry of Interior which has a local government oversight mandate, the assessment report shall be submitted to the relevant parties namely parliament’s House of Representatives for elevation approval or status retention.
The assessment report shall be submitted within thirty days per the Interior ministry decree.
If legislators concur with the elevation intent the approval shall be submitted to the president for promulgation and subsequently passed on to the National Elections Commission-NEC for action.
Currently, the three districts of Taleh, Baligubadle, and Ainabo have their legal status as Grade C thus their local Councils are composed of one elected councillors but if upgraded a notch higher to level B then the respective councils shall have 11 elected councilors
This elevation is not only related to the number of councillors but also the amount of money allocated by the central government which is apportioned as per Grace thence a higher amount for development and related activities.
According to MP Mohamed Hussein Jama ‘Rambo’ who Flanked the interior Minister the evaluation is in the right step as he pledged to lobby his fellow legislators for upgrading approval once the assessment is submitted to the House.
Somaliland Local Government structure classifies districts as Grade A, B, C and D which translates to the composition of councilors the relevant classes elect as per the local government law of 2002 that confirms that the country is divided into six regions, which contain a number of districts each. Districts, in turn, contain villages.
The Regional Councils are not elected, but include the elected Mayors of the districts in each region. District councils are, however, selected under the procedures laid down in the Presidential and Local Elections Law. Village councils are nominated by the elders and other prominent persons of the villages and are appointed by the District Councils.
