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Hargeysa,
Somaliland, August 8, 2009 – The leaders of the two main Somaliland
opposition political parties, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Sillanyo of KULMIYE
and Faisal Ali Warabe of UCID met with state department officials and
members of US congress including Donald Payne, chairman of House
Subcommittee on African Affairs and Global Health.
The meeting, which took place in Nairobi followed President Dahir
Rayale’s unilateral decision to expel donor countries from Somaliland
and his refusal to accept the production of voter list which “represents
the culmination of enormous effort by the stakeholders and an important
opportunity for the Somaliland people.”
Sources told The Somaliland Globe that Rayale refused to answer calls
from US officials.
The decision to expel the donor countries was roundly condemned by the
opposition parties, leaders of the two houses of Somaliland’s parliament
and civil society groups.
The Somaliland Globe has learnt that the US government officials are
becoming increasingly concerned about Somaliland’s deviation from the
path of upholding democratic principles.
President Rayale’s refusal to accept the production of final Voter List
as mandated by Somaliland Electoral Law and a consensual agreement
between political parties has attracted national and international
condemnation.
President Rayale and the “highly partisan” National Electoral Commission
want to hold the forthcoming presidential elections scheduled for 27
September without a Voter List. The opposition rejects this idea, as
this would give Rayale’s government an opportunity to rig the election.
The US and EU countries are considering to take appropriate action
against Rayale’s government.
Source: Somaliland Globe, August 6, 2009
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