Somaliland elders extend President Kahin's rule

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

25 Sep 2009 09:19:19 GMT

Source: Reuters

* Set conditions on voter list, election date

 

* Opposition wants Kahin impeached over delays

 

By Hussein Ali Noor

 

HARGEISA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Clan elders in northern Somalia's breakaway enclave of Somaliland voted on Friday to extend President Dahir Riyale Kahin's term on condition that a voter list be finalised and a date set for a presidential election.

 

It was the third time since April 2008 that Somaliland's upper House of Elders has extended Kahin's term, which was due to expire on Oct. 29. Opposition politicians in the lower House of Representatives have demanded the president be impeached.

 

Somaliland has enjoyed relative peace compared with the rest of Somalia since the Horn of Africa nation descended into chaos in 1991. But repeated delays to the presidential poll have worried rights groups and donors, as well as angered the opposition.

 

Suleiman Mohamoud Aden, chairman of the House of Elders, called for a vote after an all-night discussion of what he called the "delicate situation" and potential power vacuum.

 

"We want you to vote for the extension of the president's term based on the completion of the voter list by the international technical committee and the fixing of the election date with the national electoral commission," Aden said.

 

All of the 77 other members then present voted to extend Kahin's term to last for one month after the ballot, whenever that might be. A poll set for July was put back to Sept. 27, but the electoral commission postponed it again earlier this month.

 

The commission said it had ordered the latest delay because of rising concerns about whether a fair vote could be held in a political climate inflamed by disputes over the voter register.

 

Somaliland -- which has long sought international recognition as sovereign state -- is governed by the opposition-led House of Representatives, which is elected by the people, and an upper house comprised of senior clan elders.

 

Members of the lower house traded blows in the chamber and one politician pulled out a pistol earlier this month when the proposal to impeach Kahin came up for debate. The African Union says it is concerned and has appealed for calm. [iD:nL8315188]

 

On Wednesday, a senior minister in the Mogadishu government said southern Somalia's al Shabaab insurgents were also seeking to exploit the growing tensions in Somaliland. [iD:nLN012244] (Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by David Clarke)

 

 

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[Xaaji Xunjuf]

And this time There is no date for the elections. so it can be in 2010 2012 who knows.

[NGONGE]

^^ This time they actually set proper conditions on the extension. Something that the opposition should have demanded the First time.

 

Anyway, it is not over. Now the haggling will start over the date for the elections and the deadline for voter list. Again, something that the opposition should have argued about when Riyaale kicked the server people out.

 

Silanyo looked angry last night. Faysal was ready for a ruck. I hope they calm down now and play politics (i.e. bribe the gurti well).

[Som@li]

Riyale is a master player, Good job.

 

Waxaan Magli jiray Ishiisa laga arkaa ushiisa lagu tumaa.

[juma-nne]

Thanks God, it ended in peace. However while riyaale is playing his cards well, the oppositon seems to be disorganized and ill prepared, to encounter the malicous tactics employed by riyaale. The oppositon needs to get organized and setup startegic process in place. They should stop crying foul everytime riyaale pulls the rug from under their feets. : dadweynoo isusoo baxaa oo xabadda isudhiga is not a good political startegy

[General Duke]

Hope the tensions die down now. The old NSS comander pulls it of again.

[Thankful]

The dominant family there knows. If they take Riyaale out of power, he'll take his whole family and join Sharif's government. Those Somali flags in Boorama were calculated. So they have no choice but to tolerate Mr. Riyaale.

[juma-nne]

The dominant family there knows. If they take Riyaale out of power, he'll take his whole family and join Sharif's government. Those Somali flags in Boorama were calculated. So they have no choice but to tolerate Mr. Riyaale.

 

 

Provided the dominant family lives in peace and stabilty i dont see any fuss here. In kenya The dominat "KIKUYUS" tolerated MOI'S rule for 24 years.

[Som@li]

It is better to be ruled by a dictator than have anarchy.

 

Give peace a chance.

[NGONGE]

Originally posted by ThankfulSP:

The dominant family there knows. If they take Riyaale out of power, he'll take his whole family and join Sharif's government. Those Somali flags in Boorama were calculated. So they have no choice but to tolerate Mr. Riyaale.

Rubbish. Riyaale has a lion sitting on his lap and that is why he keeps getting extensions. A couple of blue flags in Borama are not the same as a lion on your lap. Waxba lama socotid, adeer.

 

Dominant family my..err..gurti.

[Peace Action]

NG I thought they said Riyaale wuxu ku fadhiya dhabta libaax? Still the man has become a master politician. May be he has learned from Egal who managed to dominate politics in the north all his life.

[Jacaylbaro]

All that happen when there is a real government ......... I'm glad it went well today.

[Che -Guevara]

NGONGE.......LooL

 

chill :cool:

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

ki dbabta libaxaaa ku hayee ina bulaale eeh ilkaha laha sookii dhintay ,marka riyaale dhabte buu ku fadhiya war riyaaale siyasadan kala qeybinta iyo xukunka iyo kala dirta wuxu ka bartay Macalinkisii Cigaal aya waxan samayee guurtiida samaystey inu xilka hayee for ever

 

Remember when cigaal used to say I will step down and then the guutii used to beg cigaal to stay in power , few weeks back suuqa waxa laa galliye war riyaale is casiileyo same game cigaal used to play.

Riyaale was invented by cigaal. And riyaale is a good student. But there are things cigaal didn’t teach him. lol

[Cowke]

Why does he need to hold an election for to begin with, the man has the blessing of ethiopia. Does some hargeisa dude opinion really matter? you need to view it from a larger picture scenario.

 

Rayale won't hold no election and if he does he will rigg it so he wins and remains head of hargeisa. Mark my words on that, and i've said this repeatedly.