Somaliland voters braved al-Qaeda threats to engage in "the devil's practice" -- but the result of the poll won't be recognised outside the country 
STEFAN SIMANOWITZ
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Many of them had walked considerable distances and queued all night to vote in presidential elections that have been delayed by almost two years. They also braved threats by separatists and by an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group which, on the eve of polling day, issued a warning to stop people voting and described democracy as "the devil's principle".
Despite the threats, more than one million voters came out.
But even with the high turnout and an election that was deemed free and fair by international observers, the result will not be officially recognised beyond the country's territorial borders. Indeed, in the eyes of the international community, Somaliland is a country that does not exist.
Somaliland, a nation the size of England and Wales, declared itself independent in 1991 after a brutal civil war and has enjoyed a level of peace and security that contrasts sharply with the lawlessness of neighbouring Somalia.
However, recent security issues and bitter disputes over voter registration caused a delay in last month's elections that led to fears that the country's nascent democracy might be under threat.
Polling day did see some disturbances. An attack on a polling station by separatist militia in the Puntland region left an election observer and three others dead and resulted in the closure of 34 polling stations. But the fears of attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked group, al-Shabab, did not materialise.
The election saw the defeat of President Dahir Riyale Kahin and the UCUB party, which has been in power since independence. The new president-elect, Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, of the Kulmiye party, will be sworn in by July 26 and the country is expecting an orderly transfer of power. All parties have agreed to abide by the result and Somaliland is expected to renew its reputation as a "model" to the Horn of Africa.
Source: Mail and Guradian