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Hargeysa, Somaliland, April 17, 2010 (SL Times) – The National Electoral
Commission in Somaliland finally is ready to organize the country's
second presidential elections in June this year, two years late.
According to a brief news release by the government in Hargeysa,
Somaliland's National Electoral Commission has presided over a meeting
with the countries political parties, agreeing on the last details for
holding the twice postponed presidential elections.
During the meeting, Somalilander political parties signed the code of
conduct for the upcoming presidential election. Representatives from
President Dahir Riyale Kahin's ruling UDUB party agreed with the main
opposition party Kulmiye and other opposition parties.
The electoral commission presided the meeting that slated the
presidential elections to be held in June 2010 "after registration of
voters list is completed and new voter identification cards are issued,"
according to the government release.
Somaliland organized its first presidential elections in April 2003. The
poll, which was deemed both free and fair by international observers,
ended in one of the closest poll races ever seen in Africa. President
Riyale won the vote with 42.08 percent of the poll, followed by
Kulmiye's candidate receiving 42.07 percent of votes.
President Riyale's term ended in 2008, but as the electoral commission
was not able to organize a nation-wide poll at that state, the Hargeysa
parliament agreed to extend his term by one year. Last year, parties
agreed to organize elections in September, but again the term of
President Riyale had to e extended because voter lists were not ready.
Now, however, the under-funded National Electoral Commission has
announced it is close to finishing the electoral preparations. It has
established an electronic voter registration system and has started
issuing voting registration cards to citizens.
Somaliland - comprising of former British Somaliland - broke away from
Somalia - or former Italian Somaliland - as Somalia collapsed into
conflict in 1991. While the conflict still goes on in Somalia,
Somaliland has managed to establish the only functioning democracy on
the African Horn, successfully upholding peace and stability and
introducing its own currency and legislation.
The government of Somaliland however never has achieved international
recognition, despite a growing Western desire to establish formal ties.
This also means that Somaliland is not eligible for international
funding and development aid - a fact contributing to the electoral
commission's long delay in getting a voter registration system in place.
Source: Afrol News, April 14, 2010
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