Democracy Triumphs with Somaliland’s Second Peaceful Election

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Democracy Triumphs with Somaliland’s Second Peaceful Election

Written by USAID

Sep 23, 2010 at 04:13 PM

This summer, Somaliland’s presidential election marked a rare, peaceful democratic transition in the greater Horn of Africa.

 

On June 26, the lead opposition Kulmiye party (Kulmiye means “bringing together”) received almost half of the more than 538,000 votes cast, while the ruling UDUB party (United People’s Democratic Party) won 33 percent of votes. Another opposition party, UCID (the Justice and Welfare party), received 17 percent of the votes.

 

With the election, Kulmiye party leader and veteran politician Ahmed Silanyo was declared the new president of Somaliland, with then-President Dahir Kahin Riyale issuing a statement assuring the people of Somaliland that he would respect the election outcome.

 

More than 500,000 Somalilanders cast their ballots. Some voters waited in line to vote at least five hours before polls opened.

 

USAID contributed over $700,000 to support the Somaliland presidential election process.

 

Eight hundred domestic observers monitored the process throughout Somaliland’s six regions. Political party watchers, trained by USAID implementing partner, the International Republican Institute, were deployed to most of the 1,782 polling stations, observing election day processes and ballot counting. Many poll workers were university students as local universities partnered with Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission to train students to administer the polls per Somaliland’s election law.

 

Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991. The autonomous breakaway area in northwest Somalia is not recognized internationally, although it held its first peaceful presidential election in 2002. After postponing the most recent election for almost two years, election watchers say that Somaliland has enhanced its democratic reputation by pulling off a second peaceful presidential vote. ?

[PasserBy]

Silanyo is a problem Somalilanders may come to regret. Otherwise kudos to Somalilanders for showing maturity beyond their years as separate entity.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Passerby Muj Siilanyo is the leader of Somaliland for the next coming 5 years get used to it somalilands democratization will continue inshallah

[PasserBy]

No doubt. The people have spoken. But Silanyo's tenure may not last five years. There is such thing called democratic coup. It happened in Australia. It can happen in Somaliland, inshallah.

[AfricaOwn]

^ say something new. You stated how you feel about silanyo in a million different threads..we get it.

[Peace Action]

Passerby you must dislike Silanyo may be because he hates raw meat eating people, najisyohow.

 

Kudos for Somaliland for running free and fair elections and electing an honorable man Silanyo as President.

[The Zack]

^ @najisyahow

[Somalina]

Zack, intaad dhoolo cadeyneysid wuxuu PA soo qorey, maad weydiisid sababta uu generaalka u qaban waayey oo "najis" ugu yeeriwaayey markuu Mudane Siilaanyo ku caayey (__y) si qosol beenaad ah oo weliba picture ku soo dhejiyey halkaan?

 

Mid kooda ah markuu caytamo oo uu gaf weyn geeysto, wey aamusaan, hadduu qofkale yahayna waa sheeko kale.

[Peace Action]

NinaNC Duke miyaa kaa cabaadiyey, my advice Duke waad ku xiiqaysaa haysku daalin

 

Are you defending an Ethiopian whose sole objective in SOL inuu Somalida isku diro?

[Jacaylbaro]

Eight hundred domestic observers monitored the process throughout Somaliland’s six regions. Political party watchers, trained by USAID implementing partner, the International Republican Institute, were deployed to most of the 1,782 polling stations, observing election day processes and ballot counting.

Good Job Somaliland ..........

[Jacaylbaro]