Somaliland: Co-ordinators of international election observers

[Jacaylbaro]

Somaliland: Co-ordinators of international election observers give cautiously positive assessment for the holding of election

 

 

International development agency Progressio, the Development Planning

Unit at UCL and Somaliland Focus (UK) welcome the good progress being

made toward the holding of Somaliland's long-delayed presidential

elections on the scheduled date of 26 June 2010.

 

The three organisations, whose advance mission is now established in

Hargeisa, were invited in January 2009 by Somaliland's National

Electoral Commission (NEC) to act as coordinators of the international

observation mission for presidential elections in the

internationally-unrecognised Republic of Somaliland.

 

Given past difficulties, recent months have seen rapid progress

towards a free and fair election. The election looks set to take place

on the scheduled date. This is a clear indication of the effectiveness

of the new NEC, put in place after the parties agreed to a revised

timetable for elections.

 

Since campaigning started in early June, there have been no major

campaign-related incidents of violence. The agreement between the

three parties to hold rallies on separate days appears to be holding.

In security terms, an incident involving alleged political Islamists

in the town of Burco in early June regrettably resulted in the death

of a member of Somaliland's police force. This has given cause for

concern in the context of threats to disrupt the election, but also

demonstrates the preparedness of the Somaliland population and police.

 

There are outstanding logistical issues to be resolved around the

security of observers, which are essential for the mission to proceed,

but we look forward to a speedy resolution of these. Michael Walls, a

joint co-ordinator, said "we hope to have around 70 international

observers from a wide variety of countries, along with 800 local

counterparts. Naturally, we are actively monitoring the security

situation in order to ensure that a balance is maintained between the

widest possible coverage of the poll and the personal security of the

observation teams."

 

His colleague, Dr Steve Kibble, said "we are encouraged by the

overwhelming desire of the people of Somaliland to see a peaceful

election, recognised as such both nationally and internationally. At

this stage, we expect that such an outcome can be achieved."

 

Notes to Editors

 

1. For further information or to arrange an interview with a

member of the coordination team, contact Conrad Heine in Somaliland,

tel +252 2 409 5464 or by email at conradheine@gmail.com

 

2. Somaliland's Presidential elections have been repeatedly

delayed. The poll has previously been scheduled for March/April 2008,

December 2008, March 2009 and September 2009.

 

3. Somaliland is situated in Somalia's northwest. It declared

unilateral independence from the failed Somali state in 1991 and has

since been a haven of relative peace whilst violence and instability

has characterised Somalia, its capital Mogadishu and more recently the

Gulf of Aden.

 

4. Progressio's involvement in the mission follows its leadership

of the international monitoring team for Somaliland's inaugural

parliamentary elections in 2005, judged by observers as "basically

free and fair".

 

5. Progressio is an international charity with Catholic roots

that enables poor communities to solve their own problems through

support from skilled workers. And we lobby decision-makers to change

policies that keep people poor.

[Suldaanka]

"we hope to have around 70 international

observers from a wide variety of countries, along with 800 local

counterparts. Naturally, we are actively monitoring the security

situation in order to ensure that a balance is maintained between the

widest possible coverage of the poll and the personal security of the

observation teams."

Strong presence. This will indeed give credibility to the elections.