World
Somaliland: Committee on the formation of more political parties returns with YES verdict
June 7, 2011 · 52 Comments
HARGEISA(SomalilandPress)—After three months of research and interviews with Somaliland citizens in all parts of the country, the committee that President Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo appointed for the task of formation of more political parties has handed in their result back to the president with a YES verdict.
The statement from the Committee to study the formation of more political parties in the country said” after conducting 1769 surveys from all the regions of the country, the committee found that the majority of Somaliland citizens are in favorite of opening the political parties”. Committee goes on to add that from understanding the surveys, debates and group discussion that they had with the civil society it showed that there is a vast need for more political parties and therefore the will of the people should be followed by allowing the more political parties to join the political arena.
[ad#Google Adsense 250x250]
It was in 2002 when Somaliland’s current three political parties system was formed after more than a dozen parties registered and took place. The legislation stated that in order for a party to advance to the next stage it must receive minimum 20 percent of the popular vote from four of Somaliland’s six regions. Six parties met that criteria and went into a battle to further minimize the number of parties. Constitution was agreed on that only the three parties with the most votes will be approved and the electoral commission announced the current three parties UDUB, UCID and Kulmiye.
Even though Somaliland has three political parties and viable democratic institutions, many groups from current cabinet minister of the incumbent government and ordinary citizens have called for more political parties. During the well contested election campaigned, President Silanyo promised if he gets elected that his government will offer state support for those wishing to form new political parties while inviting blacklisted parties to join his Kulmiye party in the mean time. Current Finance Minister Eng. Mohamed Hashi Elmi and current Interior Minister Dr. Mohamed Abdi Gabose and their Qaran party were one such party that took the invitation from Kulmiye.
Somaliland combines traditional and western institutions to form its own distinctive system that has worked for the country in the last twenty years. Many have recognized this unique system which is the backbone of its stability and its abilities to resolve internal disputes thus allowing it to named Africa’s best kept secret.
Follow @somalilandpressTags: Kulmiye, Somaliland election, Somaliland Political Parties, UCID, UDUB
Somaliland
Somaliland:Ministry of Aviation Has for the First Time Bars A Plane from Landing
By Goth Mohamed Goth The Government of Somaliland has for the first time ever barred an airplane from landing in one of its main airports ...
Somaliland’s lack of Telecoms policy and regulations are harmful to the Nation.
In order Telecom operators to make business; having only telecoms equipment is not enough. They need the Airwave. Without the Airwave (spectrum), they cannot make ...
Somaliland´s role in potential Egyptian-Ethiopian War
Tension is increasing as Ethiopia and Egypt continue to butt heads over the Nile River. Ethiopia remains firm on building the $42 billion Grand Ethiopian ...
Somaliland:UNDP Seeks Security Firms in Somaliland, Kay Won’t Say If UNSOM Leaves
By Matthew Russell Lee UNITED NATIONS, June 15 — While one part of the UN, Mogadishu-based Nicholas Kay as new head of the UNSOM, purports ...
Somaliland:Our Indebtedness to the Congratulatory Note of brother Farhan A. Suleiman
Written by *Saeed Ahmed—in Hargeisa With open heart, frank faces and thankful ambiance, we, SONYO leadership, management and members are welcoming your deliberate support and ...
Your Say
Somaliland:RRU Terrorising Civilians Homes In Hargeisa
The citizens of Hargeisa had been witnessing this year the constant terror-operations of RRU which is a clear violation of human rights as well as ...
- Somaliland:What Reasons Made Somaliland Attendance in the London Conference Unaffordable!
- THE UNIQUENESS OF SOMALILAND PEOPLE AND THE ROOT OF THEIR PROBLEM WITH SOMALIA
- Somaliland:The ignored state in the horn of Africa
- Somaliland: Dahabshiil is epitome of altruism
- Somaliland:Somaliland Success Story
- Somaliland:Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Speech on Somaliland on the 18th May 2013
- The Shining Somaliland: Those Who Think Somaliland Is Crumbling Or Uniting With Somalia Should Swallow Their Saliva
- Ethiopia:Why do Arabs regard the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam with “apprehension”?
- Somalia and the Slippery Slope of ‘Jubbaland’
- Somaliland:What Motivates Somalilander’s Opponents
Somaliland: Conflict Resolution the Islamic Way: Somalia and Somaliland
The Lessons from the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah By Mohamed A. Suleiman Sunday, June 09, 2013 Those who are well versed in the biography (Seerah) of ...
Somalia: Somali government officials misread IGAD’s recommendation over the Jubaland conflict.
Since Somali government opposed the result of the process in which Jubaland people elected the president and vice-president on May 15, 2013, Somali people interested ...
Sport
Somaliland:President Silanyo Attends a National Basketball Tournament Match
By Goth Mohamed Goth President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo ) made a surprise visit to Timacade basketball stadium on Thursday night the venue where the ...
Somaliland:Dahabshil Group Broadcasts National Football Tournament Far and Wide
By Goth Mohamed Goth Dahabshil group of companies has once more lived up to its reputation by providing free services which has enabled media houses ...
Britain’s Farah eyes Marathon record
Olympic champion Mo Farah has set his sights on adding to his growing collection of British long-distance records when he makes his full London Marathon ...
Farah had ‘no doubts’ about running marathon
British Olympic star Mo Farah claimed on Thursday that he never considered pulling out of the London Marathon despite the fatal bomb attacks in the ...
Somaliland:National Youth Football Tournament is once again postponed for the Third Time
The Somaliland Minister of Sports, Youth &tourism Hon Ali Said Raygal has announced yet postponement of the national youth tournament which was scheduled to kick-off ...
Completion of somaliland's Democracy is finally right on the corner..
No, this is a bad idea. Our people are not ready for a plethora of political parties, based not on ideology but on individualism, communities and regions. I doubt whether the Somaliland parliament or the House of Elders will pass such a law. This would require a constitutional amendment. We can't go back the dark days of the defunct Somali Republic in the 1960's. This will lead to political mayhem. I think the current formula works well, we recently had a change of government in a free and fair vote, imagine if we had 30 parties, do you think it would free, fair, or non-corrupt. I don't think so.
This small country is amazing, I really feel very proud of my nation, deep inside of me. Thanks to Allah for so much, the wisdom he endowed and blessed with Somaliland’s people. After heated discourse, in which everyone put his/her two cent and the committee managed superbly, they finally come up with the final result and the correct one in my opinion. Thanks a million for this caring committee, you really push Somaliland democracy into another milestone….Now we are ahead of united state of America in terms of political party, since we have the opportunity to vote for a third party, if we don’t like the first two ( Democratic = UDUB & Republican = KULMIYE ) and the possibility to elect highly credible leader comes to the picture … am I kidding? I leave it to you EVEN THOUGH i AM JOKING OR MAY BE NOT!!!
**** IL IYO CAWRIBA LA’AW DALKEYGOOW*****
@Br saleban xaaji,
There will be three political party in the final race for presidential bid not 30 as you assume. keep that in mind. We just have the opportunity to change once in while the last qualified three party.. in other words, no permanent UDUB, KULMIYE OR UCID… I hope i shed some light in this..
long live Somaliland.
@ Weerar,
If You are asked to choose between the current three parties, I am sure you can hardly differentiate between them. It took us more than a decade to overthrow one ruling party and put another. I dont think we can handle 30 parties with 30 president wanna be. And dont forget are based on tribe, no party can succeed without atleast the full support of a tribe.
Therefore, I think opening political parties will not only confuse our innocent voters, but will destroy our hard earned tribal-type democracy which took us 20 years to build, started with disarming maletias and etc. We have tried UDUB and we know what UDUB can do, now we are in the begining of learning Kulmiye strategy and where it can take the counrty. Lets build political institutions, where the parties brings the politician not the politician brings the party. Lets focus on how to strenghen these existing parties and free them from the tribal mentally by moving them to an environment where one is elected based on competence, transparency and free of corruption.
Thanks Suhail for your enlightening comments, and I agree with you 100% when you said,” Let’s focus on how to strengthen these existing parties and free them from the tribal mentally by moving them to an environment where one is elected based on competence, transparency and free of corruption” the question is, how we gone do that at this moment, will Riyaale & Faisal resign from the post to be replaced them with competent candidate.
I don’t think so, the only viable way left for us, is to sack the whole party down to the ground for their incompetence and undemocratic nature within their parties. Let us think for the long haul, until we find a political party that is truly democratic, flexible and can present to the public a leader that is very credible and as you put it, competent and free from corruption. Suhail, now we don’t have that and that is the brutal truth.
You are putting the cart before the horse. If the idea is to get rid of UDUB and UCID, then I think this new system will do that. If the idea is make regional parties i.e from the West or East (Awdal or Sool), then this new system will do that.
But, what most people fail to understand that with a plethora of political parties, perhaps with the exception of KULMIYE no other party might 20% across the nation. These parties will become not actual political party i.e national and across the country, but a regional and individual led parties, and this is a recipe for a disaster.
In the rest of the democratic world, the political spectrum is as follows left (including labour, unions, socialist, green, new democratic, even communist), centre (liberal, social democrats, etc) and right (conservative, republican, far rights wing parties, kind of like Calan Cas). Therefore, in Somaliland, three parties are plenty, otherwise, it would dilute our democracy and lead to corruption and mayhem.
Part one;
@@ Sulieman;
Whether I am putting the cart before the horse or not, time will tell that one. And to be honest with you as you put it, the idea is to get rid of Udub and Ucid, and as you agree, this system will just do that for now and give opportunity other competent political parties come to the front that can challenge the current kulmiye . In my opinion, Kulmiye will survive for some time for showing some resemblance of flexibility within its party, such as transferring the party chairman to Muse Biixi and numerous other things like keeping some of its campaign promises such as opening the political parties. Kulmiye is formidable, I agree with you.
The other thing, Brother Suleiman, those of us in the Diaspora have one big problem, we always underestimate our people back home, and presume that they can’t read b/w the line. Trust me, they knew where their interest lay, and they knew how their vote will impact them for better or worse, and how precious it is in the final analysis.
Part two;
Insha’Allah; Mark my word, they will produce two more political parties that are dynamic and robust then the current Kulmiye and they will get rid of the other two current losers who fail to understand that the country shifted from complicated tribal hegemony into the winning the heart and mind simplicity by delivering campaign promises and listen. The whip is in the public hands now, watch out and thanks for this stalwart Committee who did their best to secure the whip in the public hand.
I dont support this move but as a democratic nation I think its fair to hear the other side. If they want to open political parties let them be but we will not tolerant any one to create extremist or parties that will not serve the interest of this nation. Democracy doesnt mean anyone can do as they wish, lets see the United States open an Al Qaeda Political Party for that matter…
We have to control it from here…three were already way too many. Lets not vote for any new ones and they will give up.
I am sorry that they agreed to open new parties. This is too bad I believe. It will be like 1969 where every tribe has its own party. Belonging to Somaliland as individual is gone for good, and deep tribal affiliation will replace it. What is coming will be very bad for Somaliland. It is only good that each tribe will know their number, because no one from a particular tribe will vote or register as a supporter for a party that his cousin is not the boss. UCID will only get votes from part of Hargeisa and Gaaroodi, while Kulmiye will get from part of Hargeisa and the East of Burao. UDUB will cease to exist, unless Awdalites take it over. That is the reality of what we are trying to get it.
respect the democracy pls. if you have a fear that your political party will not succeed coming part of the prospective three national party i do not know a way i can help you,, but keep in mind rules and regulations will administer the formulation of new political parties.
I was against this idea of more new parties but if thats what the majority wants so be it.
Anybody wanna join HAMBALYO? (Beesha Habar Magaal iyo DIaspora Party)
I am for the Danyar (dabaqada hoose) party.
I have a bad feeling about this. I am convinced the appointed or rather self-appointed ''committee'' conducted no surveys whatsoever and simply got their ''results'' out of the thin air. Somaliland does not need more political parties based on tribes but needs to reform and modernise the current three and bring them up to international standards. For a start, all the three political parties should be forced by law to have a registered membership base, an accountable and transparent finances, and hold a regular, secret, and democratic ballot to elect their leaders. They should also be required by law to have all of Somaliland's tribes within their ranks.
continues below….
I am sure the power hungry Gaboose is behind this stupid idea. Everyone know this guy does not care about Somaliland and its wellbeing and just wants to grab as much power and loot as much wealth as he can from our poor nation. He is counting on his large Haber Yoonis sub-clan to elect him president and make him realise his long help dream. As a member of this sub-clan, I could not be more eager to see the back of this terrible doctor from hell and I hope my fellow clansmen see him for what he is and give him the boot. Our people should know that the future of Somaliland is best shaped by common interest of its citizens and not by the personalities and egos of few individuals.
let him go and feel free if he is getting a vote from the public,, why not,, is not he a citizen?
@ Boqoljireh
You got this one wrong brother & it won't be like 1969 whatever that means because I was only born in the 80's! You said UDUB will cease to exist but I think Faisal & UCID are more likely cease to exist as that party is becoming ever more a one man show. You also said Kulmiye will only get votes from some parts of Hargeisa and East Burco well Kulmiye is much more broader than that & they have loyal supporters from east to west of the country who will vote for them again in 4 years time. But, for them to win on a landslide like they did in the last election will depend on how they run the country in the next few years.
I support this, I will love the regions, Sool, Sanaag, and Awdal to recreate the United Somali Party or USP, we have to unity the Hartis and Gadabursi to balance the power aganist Issaq clan.
Take your disease else this is not Somalia.
Correction: Take your disease else where this is not Somalia.
My home is Somaliland.
For those concern Somaliland citizens living abroad you have nothing to worry about I guarantee you. Somalilanders inside the country are not that naive as you might think and they know whats best for them & for their country so they would never elect along tribal lines or ones self interest so relax. And as brother Weerar said above; there will be three political party in the final race for presidential bid not 30.
USP
Adeer waxa laga hadlayo horta fahan waa democracy maaha reero iyo beelo waa dal hore u maray ee hadii aad beelo doonayso go to Budhcadland or Mogadishu that suits you hadii kale ku dhex biir bulshada nabada jecel ee nabada qabta ee Somaliland oo oomo ama tide calooshaada ku maydh waad u bugtaaye!
Abdulfatah
Abti, yes its a modern nation, but still the non-Issaq clans in Somaliland must unity to protect their rigths from the majority. Remember without support from Awdal and Sool Somaliland can not secede from Mogadishu…..
Somaliland without Awdal and Sool is like hell I agree with this, already Somaliland had proved that non Isaaq can be the highest position of the country and it will happen again and again, the confidence is first priority
somaliland is for every body,, from sanaag, to sool, to saaxil, to hargeisa, to gabiley, to Awdal, to Salal,,, and Democracy brought them together and made them one beautiful nation called Somaliland.
As someone already clarified, REMEMBER, in the end only three parties (those with at least 20% support in four of the six regions) will be declared national parties. This is no different from the process used to select the current three parties. Those who oppose the idea are either stuck in the 1960s or are beneficiaries of the current 3 parties — because one or more of the current parties may fall off the wagon. Somaliland — keep marching ahead.
This might be the END of Faisal Ali Waraabe and his one man mision UCID. lol
Its time for Riyale & Faisal to hand-over their respective parties otherwise both UCID & UDUB will be in the history books very soon.
I Dont got this, will the new Parties, follow the 2002 model, Where is they have go to process and receives votes in each of the six regions? Do Somaliland have enough money to fund to hold another elections.
I think this is a bad idea
@ Abdirahman
I'm not sure what model they will be following this time round but does Somaliland have enough money to fund this? Probably no & you can blame UDUB & UCID leaders for not stepping down.
I believe that it is a bad idea. Every oday and habar will now come out to create a new party. Where will that lead us to? No doubt, it will be disastrous.
I am against this. Let our very young democracy mature. Lets firstly strengthen our democratic institutions. I think that if this proposal is implemented we will have a situation of a political party per clan. Do we want to risk ending up somewhat like Lebanon where each ethnic and religious group has its own political party? They dont even have a government because of the political infighting!
Brothers and Sisters, what we have now works relatively well and ensures stability of the country. We cant afford to introduce any political reforms that would risk political stability of the country. Believe you me, as a democrat, I fully support more choice for citizens and more voices from across the political spectrum, but I think that now isn't the time.
let us hope all the best for Somaliland.
People who say this is a bad idea they need to explain little more other than fearing clan parties. We already have three clan parties for more than ten years so i don't see what people are fearing for. Don't worry, you will get use to it. Even if people come up regional parties that work for their own regional interest that is fine. I bet people want to keep just three parties where Udub's gone, Kulmiye is too clannish or lack off experience and Ucid is powerless. Let the people have alternative to these three old parties if your hearts and actions are saying some thing. Besides, people elected Kulmiye's promising they will open up more parties and that is what they should do. I gather it's the time for not Burco and Hargisa based parties but Borama-LasAnod parties as well. I mean people who believe breaking up Somalia will bring better live for them. Jaar ahaan iyo Somalinimo ayaan wax ugu darsanayaa.
i don't agree with people voting people from their tripe because somaliland has a new identity called somalilanders and not clan based. But if this multi party will bring more good than bad than is good may Allah make it good and bless the decision and yeah we can have parties from sol,sanag and awdal to lead somaliland so long as we don't have a party that wants a unity with somalia as this is not what somaliland sacrifice their blood for. anways inshAllah it'll be khair nothing is bigger than the trust of Allah
This is good i support the this system, but what i am thinking about is if the ruling party "Kulmiye lost the what the goveernment's situation accordingly.
It is good to expand our fledgling democracy to completeness. Instituting new political parties because the majority of Somali landers want it, is part of this expansion. still we need to be careful. We should not repeat the 1968 confusion. Before we form any new party, we need to think about how they are formed, the laws that are regulating them, their numbers, and the ideologies they are based on. All these should be discussed nationwide so that all parties are satisfied and the country saved from chaos.
That's right M.Khalid we do not want another UCID where one man owns the party and won't even resign after two embarrassing defeats hoping he would be third time lucky NO Chance!
We are finaly on the wrong road – I was expecting this to happen – Now my clan which is subdivided into 34 sub sub clans can have their own 34 political parties and none is gonna win with any thing at all.
This is not only a bad idea – but a very destructive one too. I hope this will be reviewed and cancelled if we are lucky enough.
Hassan A Kossar
admin, you deleted my message by mistake i believe, can I have it back pls.
Thanks.
I said previously that there are people ALREADY thinking based on Clan-Politics! Like our friend ''USP' up here.
'
the worst thing is to vote based on clan clan because the real common goal of a better somaliland free of tribalism will be faded due to individual interest of my 'rer hebel' should rule blah blah. Each party should have a mixture of clans just like kulmiya and udub. But lets not be too negative about the decision I'm sure the decision makers are well aware of the situation. If any advice I could ever give to anyone or to our government is to pray istiqarah before making any decision.
We need a Pro-Union party. I have a dream. Greater Somali Republic fair and free election with
Regardless how many people might be against the idea, the unionist ideology needs to be heard. As a Somalilander and separatist I still believe all groups have a right to speak their minds. For example, some people from the SSC (isaaqs included) believe in unity and so they should be given the opportunity to have their voices heard.
However, in exchange the troublemakers among the group should put down their guns and vote. If they get a majority win then they have the option for calling on a referendum to join. If these, on the other hand, they will go on peacefully like every other somalilander. No more guns, No Isaaq this Darood that etc. Just shout and scream in the parliament like every other country.
As i had read all the above comments about weather to allow more parties or not. First of all as somalilander and deep care which i have for my country i am completely against to open more parties and the reason is not coze of having scare of throwing out the present three party leaders. Come on guys what i am thinking of is to engage our self in civil war between our somaliland nation or clans, when you get more parties here each somaliland clan or region ( 7 regions or 7 gobol ) they will make their own parties and each will nominate their own man who is based on tribe and family members this also may cause each capital city of this 7 regions will request to change the somaliland capital. In the other hand do we have that big financial support 2 finance this parties. i believe the world respected our political 3 parties how they are running. and still we didn't get world wide or united nation regonise. So please don't break all the good things. I appeal 2 all somalilanders 2 join this existing 3 parties from lasanood to saylac and work togather how 2 build this country and 4 once 2 get the regonise. GOOD PLESS SOMALILAND.
I think people might be fear-mongering without any facts to backup their suspicions. Firstly, has anyone read anywhere how many parties will be formed? Secondly, how will these parties be formed and structured? Will there be strict rules such as all parties must have representatives from most if not every tribe or will be party creation come with a 12 step video where any QAT addict could run for office? For example, will sanaag region parties consist of 4 tribes (Haber Younis, Habar Jeclol, Dhulbhante and warsengali) or 1 combined, regionally representative party. Thirdly, how many parties will each region have? 1 per region or 2 or 3 with regional elections?
I THINK WE NEED ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CAN DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT NEW CHANGE IS GOOD OR BAD?
Finally, our small great nation has withstood war, destruction, political uncertainty, regional warmongers, and the effect of lack of recognition. SOMALILAND AND ITS PEOPLE ARE STRONG AND WILL BE SURVIVE ANY TRIAL WITH ALLAH(SWT) IN OUR CORNER! SO WE MUST HAVE FAITH!
My apologizes for the typos. I just type and post. I left proofreading back at school.
Awal xisbiyada siyaasadu waxay u xidhneyd UDUD oo Habar Awal ah. UCID oo ciidagale ah iyo Kulmiye oo H. Jeclo ah.
Iminkana waxaa la filayaa in ay dhowr kale kusoo biiraan, sida mid Dhulbahante ah, mid Samaroon ah iyo midkale oo Warsangali ah.
Dhinacaad ka eektaba waxani waa qabaail la qurxinayo, qabiilna qaran ma noqdo lol. Midhkaa lasocda.
The principal is right path based on multiple parties system that originally took from common voting system like Nigeria and Canada and adapted in Somaliland at beginning in 2002. But abused by Riyale –UDUB for his political intention of personal interest- dreamed to stay in official longer when he banned the formation of new parties by claimed that only 3-partis are permanent which is never stipulated in the constitution.
Another negative note, (1) the conducting surveys from all the regions of the country, was based on only 1769 participants and it should be minimal 10 % whole population as World political and statistical scale rule.
(2) the rejected votes came from the far eastern regions which almost never participated honestly for past elections of our democrat ion contributions from beginning up to last the Election, thus, they have no voting weight legitimately in special hard issue to consider and make decision on these results, so to revise and repeat the survey may be necessary.