Re: What do you think of the Somaliland Elections?
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 8:16 am
NEWS AFRICA
Somaliland holds presidential poll
Dahir Riyale Kahin, the incumbent president, won by just 80 votes in 2003
The people of the self-declared republic of Somaliland have begun voting in the region's second presidential election.
Three men, Dahir Riyale Kahin, Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo and Feysal Ali Warabe, are vying to become president of the unrecognised region, a haven of relative peace in the northwest of Somalia.
The candidates held their campaign rallies on different days in order to avoid bouts of violence between supporters.
All three candidates promised to seek out more international recognition of Somaliland to maintain the region's security and economic development.
'Slow start'
Al Jazeera's Mohamed Adow, reporting from a polling station in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, said voting was "off to a painstakingly slow start".
"This election means a bridge to international recognition and it will show the world that Somaliland is practising democracy"
Hussein Abdullahi Bulhan, head of Hargeisa University
He said voters began gathering at polling stations before dawn, with queues stretching into neighbouring roads.
"The president, after he cast his vote, told the people gathered here and the media that these elections are very crucial to the future of Somaliland," Adow said.
"[President Kahin] said recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, as an independent republic, is on the way."
Many voters share the candidates' and president's hopes for statehood and expect the election to bring Somaliland more respect.
"This election means a bridge to international recognition and it will show the world that Somaliland is practising democracy," Hussein Abdullahi Bulhan, the head of Hargeisa University, said.
Security has been tightened across the region following an audio message warning from the leader of al-Shebab, an Islamist group fighting Somalia's government, warning voters to stay home or "face the consequences" if they cast their ballot.
"All our country's forces are locking the borders. Movements and transport inside Somaliland are also forbidden except for those authorised by the national election commission," Mohamed Saqadi Dubad, a police chief, said.
A nationalistic vision of a unified Somalia is essential to some of the al-Shebab leaders.
Hopes for peace
More than a million people have registered to vote at more than 1,000 polling sites which will be monitored by dozens of international observers.
In video
Voters want Somaliland to be recognised as an independent country
Steve Kibble, an observer with the British organisation Progressio, said his group was encouraged that residents wanted to carry out a peaceful election that is recognised nationally and internationally.
"At this stage, we expect that such an outcome can be achieved," Kibble said.
Kahin, leader of the Democratic United National party, or Udub, was elected president in the first president election in 2003, with 42.08 per cent of ballots cast in an election won by 80 votes.
Somaliland's second presidential election has been frequently delayed. It was first scheduled for 2008, and then for 2009.
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been
relatively peaceful and stable compared with the rest of Somalia, which
descended into anarchy following the 1991 ouster of longtime ruler, Mohamed
Siad Barre.
The region has its own security and police forces, justice system and currency, however it is not recognised by any other state.
Polls opened at 0400GMT until 1500GMT and results are expected in one week.
source: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/afric ... 34773.html
Somaliland holds presidential poll
Dahir Riyale Kahin, the incumbent president, won by just 80 votes in 2003
The people of the self-declared republic of Somaliland have begun voting in the region's second presidential election.
Three men, Dahir Riyale Kahin, Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo and Feysal Ali Warabe, are vying to become president of the unrecognised region, a haven of relative peace in the northwest of Somalia.
The candidates held their campaign rallies on different days in order to avoid bouts of violence between supporters.
All three candidates promised to seek out more international recognition of Somaliland to maintain the region's security and economic development.
'Slow start'
Al Jazeera's Mohamed Adow, reporting from a polling station in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, said voting was "off to a painstakingly slow start".
"This election means a bridge to international recognition and it will show the world that Somaliland is practising democracy"
Hussein Abdullahi Bulhan, head of Hargeisa University
He said voters began gathering at polling stations before dawn, with queues stretching into neighbouring roads.
"The president, after he cast his vote, told the people gathered here and the media that these elections are very crucial to the future of Somaliland," Adow said.
"[President Kahin] said recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, as an independent republic, is on the way."
Many voters share the candidates' and president's hopes for statehood and expect the election to bring Somaliland more respect.
"This election means a bridge to international recognition and it will show the world that Somaliland is practising democracy," Hussein Abdullahi Bulhan, the head of Hargeisa University, said.
Security has been tightened across the region following an audio message warning from the leader of al-Shebab, an Islamist group fighting Somalia's government, warning voters to stay home or "face the consequences" if they cast their ballot.
"All our country's forces are locking the borders. Movements and transport inside Somaliland are also forbidden except for those authorised by the national election commission," Mohamed Saqadi Dubad, a police chief, said.
A nationalistic vision of a unified Somalia is essential to some of the al-Shebab leaders.
Hopes for peace
More than a million people have registered to vote at more than 1,000 polling sites which will be monitored by dozens of international observers.
In video
Voters want Somaliland to be recognised as an independent country
Steve Kibble, an observer with the British organisation Progressio, said his group was encouraged that residents wanted to carry out a peaceful election that is recognised nationally and internationally.
"At this stage, we expect that such an outcome can be achieved," Kibble said.
Kahin, leader of the Democratic United National party, or Udub, was elected president in the first president election in 2003, with 42.08 per cent of ballots cast in an election won by 80 votes.
Somaliland's second presidential election has been frequently delayed. It was first scheduled for 2008, and then for 2009.
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been
relatively peaceful and stable compared with the rest of Somalia, which
descended into anarchy following the 1991 ouster of longtime ruler, Mohamed
Siad Barre.
The region has its own security and police forces, justice system and currency, however it is not recognised by any other state.
Polls opened at 0400GMT until 1500GMT and results are expected in one week.
source: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/afric ... 34773.html