Press Release
February 13, 2009
Ever since the rebirth of Somaliland as an independent state in 1991, the Somaliland Diaspora community in North America and elsewhere around the world has taken a keen interest in the affairs of their homeland and has worked hard to continuously provide material as well as moral support for this young fledgling nation in its march towards self determination and the establishment of democratic institutions.
While by law an election should have taken place when president Rayale's term has ended on April 14, 2008 that did not happen as the Administration did not enact in time needed legislation. Nor did it put in place needed financial resources, transportation and human resources that it was obligated by law to implement. And although there was no legal foundation for extending the President's term of office, in order to forestall an instability that was creeping in the country, the opposition parties agreed to extend President Rayale’s term for an additional one year with the provision that the Presidential election to be held on March 29, 2009. 304 days have now elapsed since the President's term of office was extended. Time and again the Administration has dashed the hopes and suppressed the will of the people of Somaliland to exercise their right to hold a free, fair and timely election through the crafting of one delaying tactic after another.
With the help of the international community, a historic voter registration process of the people of Somaliland has been successfully concluded recently and Somaliland voters are now eager to exercise their right to elect a new president by going to the polls on the date that the election is scheduled to take place.
With 42 days remaining from the agreed upon presidential election date, the Administration and its party show no willingness to implement the will of the people to make this highly anticipated election occur on time. The expatriate Somaliland community of North America is, therefore, deeply troubled and dismayed by this apparent lack of enthusiasm and unwillingness on the part of the Government to ensure that these elections be held on schedule.
We strongly urge President Dahir Rayale and his administration and the donor community organizations that are supporting the election to respect the desire and will of the people by taking immediate steps to:
1. Finalize and certify the registration process.
2. Finalize the registration of the candidates of the three parties.
3. Assure the nation that the election will be held as scheduled on March 29, 2009 by issuing a presidential decree as required by the constitution.
4. Ensure that the election once held is free and fair.
We warn the Government and its party that they will be held fully responsible for any dire consequences such as political unrest, instability and God forbid, possible conflict that could arise should the election schedule is pushed back yet again.
1. Somaliland Community of Minnesota, USA
2. Somaliland Community of Ohio, USA
3. Somaliland Community of Virginia/DC/Maryland, USA
4. Somaliland Community of Western USA
5. Somaliland Community of Northeast USA
6. Somaliland Community of Georgia/Tennessee, USA
7. Somaliland Community of greater Toronto, Canada
8. Somaliland Community of Western Canada
9. Somaliland Community of t he US Midwest
10. Somaliland Community of Ottawa, Canada
 

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