12/5/2024
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One million Somalilanders head to polls in key test of democracy


Monday October 28, 2024

 

FILE -  A Somaliland resident casts her vote in a previous election, as international observers look on. Somaliland’s upcoming election is expected to draw over a million voters in a pivotal test of democratic governance and transparency.

Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland’s Election Commission is completing final preparations for a crucial election expected to draw over a million voters, a critical test of transparency and fairness as the region deepens its commitment to democratic governance.

The election, the second combined vote in two years, offers voters the choice of three presidential candidates and ten political groups seeking official party status. The results are expected to shape the region’s political future and strengthen Somaliland’s democratic path.

The stakes are high, with recent developments adding urgency. In January 2024, Somaliland signed a highly contentious agreement with Ethiopia, pledging Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coast near the port of Berbera in exchange for formal recognition. The deal has sparked tension with Somalia, which opposes Somaliland’s independence claims, and sent reverberations around the Horn Of Africa.

Somaliland’s political landscape presents voters with two distinct diplomatic visions. The ruling Kulmiye party, led by President Muse Bihi Abdi, has focused on Western alliances, establishing informal missions in cities like London, Washington, and Dubai. These connections led to high-profile exchanges, including an unofficial visit by Bihi to Washington in 2022 and a UK parliamentary delegation to Hargeisa.

In contrast, the opposition Waddani party aims to broaden Somaliland’s diplomatic reach. If elected, Waddani plans to engage with African and Global South nations like Kenya and Senegal, seeing these regional alliances as vital amid shifting global dynamics. The party’s recent coalition with KAAH, influential in Somaliland’s eastern regions, reflects its commitment to inclusivity and representation for historically marginalized communities.


FILE - Muse Hassan Yusuf, Chairman of Somaliland's Election Commission, addresses a press briefing on the final preparations for the upcoming presidential election, expected to draw over a million voters.

The Election Commission chairman, Muse Hassan Yusuf, confirmed that it had imposed fines on parties including Kulmiye, Waddani, and Kaah for campaign rule violations. Fines have also targeted individual party officials, reflecting efforts to manage rising tensions during the election. Major cities will use biometric technology, including iris recognition, to verify voter identities—a step aimed at preventing fraud and bolstering public confidence in the electoral process.

Campaign momentum has surged, with Kulmiye, Waddani, and Kaah drawing large crowds at rallies, while smaller parties and independents also vie for visibility. Yet the memory of violent disputes following the 2022 election postponement stresses the need for transparency. Allegations of voter suppression or fraud could quickly destabilize Somaliland, jeopardizing its reputation for democratic stability.

For 33 years, Somaliland has functioned as an independent, self-governing entity following its 1991 separation from Somalia, yet it remains unrecognized internationally. Somaliland faces limited access to global financing, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic channels without formal recognition, often requiring Mogadishu’s mediation.




 





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