Salad F. Duhul, Special to Arab News
JEDDAH, 14 April 2003 (Arab News) - Approximately a million voters will cast their ballots today in breakaway Somaliland’s first multi-party presidential elections. The three presidential candidates have promised to work for peace and international recognition.
The former British protectorate of Somaliland seceded from the rest of Somalia in May 1991 and declared itself independent. No nation has recognized it as a separate sovereign state. Unlike the other regions of Somalia, Somaliland in the north has achieved stability and a state of law and order. It has also put in place an effective judiciary.
Dahir Rayale Kahin, the leader of Somaliland, is the leading Udub party’s candidate. His challengers are the candidates from the Kulmiye and Ucid opposition parties. Kahin took office last May after the death of former leader Muhammad Ibrahim H. Igal in South Africa.
The chairman of the Election Commission has reportedly criticized the administration for not handing over all the promised funds to supervise the polls.
At the same time, during the campaign Ucid candidate Feisal Ali Waraabe expressed doubt that the election would be free and fair.
About 19 delegates from the US, the European Union, and the African Union have already arrived in the capital Hargeisa to observe the polls.
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