Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
HARGEISA (HOL) – As the breakaway northern Somalia republic of Somaliland continues registering voters across the enclave for the upcoming presidential elections, some potential voters in the enclave were frustrated by long lines and poor internet connections that led to hours of delays.
The region now heads into the final months of an election season which would see the ruling party contesting against coalition of opposition parties.
Elders and residents in Awdal region complained that the process did not meet their expectations, urging the electoral commission to address the persistent problem.
“Whether the problem is the internet or the people they employed is a matter that should be address without delay.” said Ibrahim Jama Samatar, one of the region’s elders at a press conference Tuesday.
The elders warned that further delays to address the technical problems would discourage people from participating voter registrations.
No comment could be reached from the electoral commission on the development.
Opposition parties have earlier endorsed the ongoing registration process, urging the electoral commission to assist the government in facilitating the exercise in order for the election to go ahead on schedule.
President Ahmed Silanyo has earlier declared Togdher region as the launching point for the voter registration process, despite challenges facing the region which was recently engulfed by draughts and water shortages.
Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia has declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991; however, no country has yet recognized it as an independent state.