Hargeysa, Somaliland, March 22, 2008 (SL Times) – The Chairman of the National Electoral Commission Mohamed Yusuf Ahmed has offered his resignation of the post he had held since October 5, 2007 for health reasons.

Mr. Yusuf who was known to have a serious liver problem, will keep his membership of the commission.

The deputy chairman Hersi Ali Haghi Hassan will automatically replace Yusuf as chair.

However the Somaliland Times has learnt that poor health was not the only factor in compelling Mohamed Yusuf to resign. Mr. Yusuf complained from frequent interventions by president Riyale and the Somaliland Academy for Peace and Development in NEC affairs.

Feuding among some members of the NEC and the donors’ decision to appoint an international NGO as the contracting authority in relation to tendering registration material and equipment.

Local bidders have complained that the terms and conditions set for pre-qualification were designed in a manner that ensured their exclusion from participation.

Vendors argued that they could have supplied by now most of the material needed for registration, had the terms of pre-qualification and tender contracts were made more reasonable so as to enable them take part in the bidding.

Many local business contractors who had initially shown interest in the NEC tender now feel discouraged to submit their offers. They suspect that the Academy might have influenced the donors in appointing an INGO with its own business interests.

Source: Somaliland Times