"The UK is looking forward to the establishment of a political entity in the south of Somalia and hopes that the reconciliation process in the south leads to conditions for a dialogue with Somaliland" - Myles Wickstead, British Ambassador to Ethiopia
Addis Ababa (SL Times): The British government will provide £ 125,000 in support of the Somaliland presidential elections to be held on the 14th of this month. The funds are intended to assist this country’s National Electoral Commission in meeting costs for training of polling station staff and the fielding of political party monitors to represent the 3 presidential candidates at polling stations. A small portion of the funds will also be used to finance the arrival of two missions here to observe the elections.
In a press statement issued by the British Embassy in Addis Ababa on Thursday, the British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Myles Wickstead, has outlined his country’s position on Somaliland’s elections as well as what the international community expects from Somaliland in this respect.
Mr. Wickstead reiterated the UK position of preferring the establishment of a political entity in the south of Somalia first, in the hope that this may lead to conditions conducive for opening dialogue with Somaliland. Here is the full text of the press release:
- The UK will be spending approximately £125,000 in support of the Presidential elections due to take place in Somaliland on 14 April.
- £116,000 will support the work of the Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) and will be channeled through German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). This UK funding will form part of a total contribution from the international community of £200,000 - £250,000. These funds will help the NEC conduct voter and civic education; train electoral and polling station staff, train independent domestic observers; and meet some of the NEC's communication, transportation and distribution costs. 'This money will also fund the supply of technical expertise to the NEC and the fielding of political party agents of each Presidential candidate at polling stations.
- A further UK contribution of approximately £4,000 will help fund a mission by a small team of experts from the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa to observe the elections and conduct workshops to educate political party agents on their role in the electoral process. An additional £4,000 will fund observation of the elections by a team from Inter-Africa Group.
- HE Myles Wickstead, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ethiopia, said, "The UK is pleased to be able to support these elections. Our assistance builds on earlier UK support to the Municipal Elections held, successfully and peacefully, in Somaliland in December. The forthcoming Presidential elections will be a further step towards establishing multi-party democracy in Somaliland. They are an opportunity for all Somalilanders, including women and those from minority groups, to have an equal say in the choice of their government. The international community will watch these elections with great interest. We call on all parties to ensure that the elections are handled well and the results respected, so as to enhance Somaliland’s reputation as a peaceful and stable region."
- HE Myles Wickstead added "The UK is looking forward to the establishment of a political entity in the south of Somalia and hopes that the reconciliation process in the south leads to conditions for a dialogue with Somaliland".
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