Somaliland
Somaliland’s Vote Met Standards, Observers Say
June 28, 2010 · 6 Comments
BURAO (Somalilandpress) — Elections in Somaliland met international standards, said a foreign observer mission that monitored the vote in the breakaway region of northwestern Somalia.
The June 26 vote was “a free and fair expression of the popular will of the Somaliland people,” Steve Kibble, joint coordinator for the team led by Progressio, a London-based development agency, told reporters today in the capital, Hargeisa.
The election in one of the few peaceful and democratic territories in the Horn of Africa was delayed for two years because of wrangling over voter registration. President Dahir Riyale Kahin of the United Peoples’ Democratic Party faced challenges from Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo of the Kulmiye party and Faisal Ali Warabe from the Justice and Welfare Party.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, after the fall of former dictator Mohammed Siad Barre. No sovereign state has recognized Somaliland as an independent nation.
The vote will help Somaliland “get international recognition and investment,” Richard Williamson, a former U.S. presidential envoy to Sudan and ambassador to the United Nations, said at the weekend.
Riyale became president of the former British colony in 1992 and won election to the post in 2003, after his party defeated the opposition Kulmiye party by 80 votes.
The June 26 vote was delayed until this month because of security concerns and registration problems. Preliminary results are expected later this week.
By William Davison
–Editors: Paul Richardson, Heather Langan.
To contact the reporter on this story: William Davison in Hargeisa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin in Johannesburg at asguazzin@bloomberg.net.
Source: Bloomberg | Monday, 28 June 2010
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By Mo Guled
Tags: Bloomberg, Election, June 26, Observers, Somaliland, Vote
Readers Comments (6)
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It ain't over till UCID wins. Viva Somaliland.
President Riyaale did not became president in 1992. He became president after late president Egal died in around 2002, just a historical correction there. viva la Somaliland, GO UCID
Yes Ucid but I will be happy with Kulmiye too, no UDUB. Rayale doesnt come out of that compound, he doesnt even visit his home town, in the 8 years he was president he visited once this year.
It is really sad that some Somali intellectuals in the Diaspora who hail from regions in Somaliland that are not 100% behind the country being independent, are resorting to flawed or outdated arguments in their opposition.
Some refered to a recent report by Human Rights Watch that said democratic elections might not be the only solution to many countries. Based on this report these detractors argued that elections only are not real democracy.
I do not know if such an argument is even ethical considering the present situation where Somalis shoot each other on a daily basis.
Another laughable argument was advanced recently by Proffessor Said Samatar of Minnesota in a three way tele conference by Aljazeera. He argued that the claim of sveriegnity by Somaliland is not based on a sense of citizenship. Sadly, in the same week the esteemed proffessor was complaining about how he and his spouse were targeted by airport security in the U.S simply because they were Somali Muslims.
This despite his academic status and American citizenship. What an irony?
Mohamed Dualeh
Democracy Action Group (DAG)
Ottawa, Canada
MR. M.Dualeh.
To add more flavor into your comments, it is also sad to note that whilst certain Somalilander citizens publicly and openly support Somalia or somaliweyn against their homogenous Somaliland territorial legalities and the wishes, aspirations of the majority, you will not see a single person from Somalia and/or Somaliweyn supporting the Somaliland position, isn't this odd??? Prof. Said Samater and other Somalilander dissidents can only be sumed up as betrayals against their true country Somaliland.
Mohamed Dualeh
Re: To add more favor,,,,,
As Somalilanders, we are fortunate that we chose a democratic way and are on the way to implement more measures that could finally aleviate the misery of our people.
But we have to remeber also that with democracy comes the willingness to accept, but not necssarily agree with, the different ideas of our citizens/would be citizens. We must not shy away from sharing a podium with such detractors to shred the core of their claims and arguments with rationality and pragmatism.
The majority of those who oppose the existence of Somaliland, after you peel their claims and arguments, do not have a rational answer for the fundamental principle of democracy:
Those who want to have a unified Somali state are free to hope and dream,,, but Somaliland have no role to play in their dreams. And the earlier they realize this reality the better.
Mohamed Dualeh
Democracy Action Group (DAG)
Ottawa, Canada