The elections marked an important moment for democracy in Somaliland: after significant delays to both polls, they marked the first time that national and local elections have been held together.
Says Professor Michael Walls of DPU, Chief Observer on the mission:
“While these elections represent democratic progress, they were held 11 years after the originally envisaged expiration of the parliamentary term, and more than three years after council elections were due. It is good news that they were peaceful and accepted as credible by stakeholders. However, uniquely in Africa, not a single woman was elected to Parliament. This is a serious democratic deficit, even marking a step backwards from past, already low, levels of female representation. While it is cause for celebration that Somaliland has continued to hold elections, it is also time to focus on seeking ways to strengthen the procedures in place for the next poll, due in 2022 and those that take place after that.”
The elections, which occurred under the challenging circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, and under Somaliland’s consolidated General Law for National Elections and Voters’ Registration, represented progress along Somaliland’s democratic path. There were many positives, notably the election of a member of a ‘minority’ clan to parliament, the improved electoral law (albeit still with too much left to the discretion of electoral and political authorities), and the fact that media coverage was generally regarded as balanced and responsible. Importantly, election day itself and its aftermath passed off peacefully, with Somalilanders once again turning out enthusiastically to vote.
However, there are also aspects of the electoral process that require improvement to reach international standards. The voter registration process in particular is complicated and restrictive for voters and potential voters and, in the absence of a census, cannot describe with precision what proportion of the possible electorate is registered to vote.
Furthermore, the mission calls for three profound changes: reform of the restrictive political system in which only three political parties are permitted to contest elections, which severely curtails democratic representation; Somalilander-led legislative measures to ensure female political representation; and political re-commitment to the agreed constitutional electoral timetable so that future elections are held on time, banishing the long tradition of electoral delay in Somaliland to the past.
The mission’s final report also makes a number of additional recommendations, including enhancing voter education and the secrecy of voting, better training for polling station staff, and an improved system for counting and tabulation of votes.
Notes
The limited international election observation mission was invited by Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) as independent international observers to observe the electoral process. The mission is funded by the UK government, but is independent from it and international in composition. The LIEOM was organised by the Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London (UCL). The LIEOM operated in the spirit of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation affirmed at the UN in 2005 and emphasising the impartiality of the observation.
The independent team of 12 international observers from Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, US and Zambia observed the campaign and electoral preparations in the week leading up to the election, election day, and voting, counting and tabulation of results in locations across Somaliland including Hargeisa, Berbera, Burao and Borama.
The full final report can be downloaded here. The report launch event can be viewed in full here.
Established in 2005, Somaliland Focus aims to raise awareness of the democratic achievements of Somaliland.
We have co-organised the international election observation team for three elections in Somaliland, alongside Progressio and UCL’s Development Planning Unit, and are now involved in organising international observation for the 2017 Presidential Election as part of the mission that is being led by UCL. Election observation to date includes:
Members are individuals with personal and/ or professional interests in Somaliland, including those from the Somaliland diaspora in the UK. Aside from our election observation activities, we have regular members’ meetings and irregular public events. If you want to know more about what we do, please contact us on info@somalilandfocus.org.uk – or via Twitter @SomalilandFocus.
DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in blog entries are individual, and do not necessarily represent the official view of Somaliland Focus or the international election observation mission.
From The Journal of the Anglo-Somali Society, Spring 2020: the Somaliland roots of Poly Styrene, legend of Britain’s 1970s punk explosion, by a Somaliland Focus member taking a break from election observation, for a change…read full article
Following the London unveiling in March, the international election observation mission (IEOM) will revisit its final report, ‘The Limits of Consensus?’, in Somaliland with an event at Ambassador Hotel, Hargeisa on Thursday 26th July at 10am. Eight months on from polling day, the event provides an opportunity to reflect on the poll and aftermath, and on implications for the next step in Somaliland’s political journey—the long-delayed parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 2019.
Says Dr Michael Walls, chief observer of the IEOM:
“This presidential election was marked by some significant firsts, including the first use of Somaliland’s innovative biometric voter register and the first participation in a Somaliland election of some in the easternmost regions. In a tense situation, Somaliland once again called on its admirable tradition of conflict resolution to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. But such a tradition cannot be relied upon indefinitely. Thus, we urge Somaliland’s stakeholders to take on board the long list of recommendations in our final report. We hope Somaliland’s democratic journey will continue peacefully, and that we will once again be part of a successful observation mission to a successful poll in 2019 as scheduled.”
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The full final report can be downloaded here.
The international election observation mission (IEOM) to the poll on 13 November 2017 today releases its final report, entitled “The limits of consensus?”. The IEOM assembled 60 observers from 27 countries at the invitation of Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission. The IEOM observed 355 polling stations (22% of the total), across all six regions of Somaliland and 17 of the 21 districts. The IEOM reported a largely peaceful and well-organised polling day in areas observed, albeit with some irregularities, but not of sufficient scale to have impacted the final result. Thus, the violence following polling day—which saw some deaths amid allegations of electoral malpractice—was deeply disappointing.
Says Dr Michael Walls, chief observer of the IEOM:
“Once again, Somaliland called on its admirable tradition of conflict resolution to defuse a potentially dangerous post-election situation. But Somaliland is at a crucial stage: over-reliant on a customary system to solve problems, with the chosen electoral system not yet fully accepted as a means of determining political leadership. Set against a background in which major international deals are pushing the stakes higher, we note the need for renewed commitment to an inclusive politics. We hope Somaliland’s democratic journey will continue peacefully, and move on to the next stage, namely holding its much-delayed parliamentary poll in 2019 as scheduled.”
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The full final report is downloadable here. A podcast of the report launch panel discussion in London is here.
Somaliland’s Supreme Court yesterday upheld the preliminary results of the presidential election, originally released by the National Electoral Commission on 21 November. That decision confirms Mr Muse Bihi Abdi, leader of Kulmiye Party, as the president-elect. The international election observation mission (EOM) congratulates all Somalilanders, including Mr Bihi and the other candidates, on the conclusion of the electoral process.
Says Dr Michael Walls, chief observer of the EOM:
“We congratulate the new president, and are pleased that, after some post-poll tensions, political parties have followed legal channels in confirming the election result, which has now been accepted by all candidates. We applaud political leaders on all sides for their public statements stressing the importance of the gains made by Somaliland to date. Somalilanders have once again shown their strong commitment to peaceful electoral democracy and we look forward to a continuation of that process as we now look toward the much-delayed parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held in tandem with local council polls in 2019.”
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The EOM is also on Facebook and Twitter.
With post-election disturbances reported in Somaliland while results are awaited, the International Election Observation Mission (EOM) is aware of complaints and grievances about the electoral process. We urge complainants to pursue those grievances through the appropriate customary and legal channels, where evidence can be assessed in full and judged on its merits.
Says Dr Michael Walls, chief observer of the EOM:
“Violent protest undermines the peace that Somaliland has built so painstakingly over the years, and does not serve the interests of Somalilanders or Somaliland as a whole. We are aware of complaints, and stress the urgency that those complaints be considered in full and within the context of the legal channels designed to provide a full and fair hearing. We urge all parties to call for restraint as those processes are pursued.”
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The EOM is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Following Somaliland’s third presidential election on 13 November 2017, the International Election Observation Mission anticipates a moment of change in Somaliland, as President Ahmed Silanyo, in office since 2010, steps down after his successor has been declared elected. Most members of the 60-person observation mission, funded by the British government and drawing on members from 27 countries, are now preparing to leave Somaliland, leaving a small team to observe the declaration of results and the reaction to that announcement.
Chief observer, Dr Michael Walls of the Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London (UCL) and Somaliland Focus UK, notes:
“We are pleased to have observed an election which has seen Somaliland show its democratic spirit, and we congratulate the National Electoral Commission on a well-run poll. We look forward to the announcement of a credible result. Furthermore we call on all parties to urge their supporters to accept the result, for the sake of Somaliland, and we encourage any who are dissatisfied with that result to pursue complaints through legal channels.”
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The EOM is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Following Somaliland’s third presidential election on 13 November 2017, the 60-member mission, funded by Britain’s government and drawing on members from 27 countries is now finalising its interim report to Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission as observers return to Hargeisa.
Says chief observer Dr Michael Walls of the Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London (UCL) and Somaliland Focus UK:
“On election day, we are pleased to have observed a poll that in the main seems to have preserved the integrity of the electoral process. While we are aware of some key concerns, these do not seem to be substantive and systematic enough to have undermined the election itself, and we congratulate Somaliland on a largely peaceful process; another progressive step in their electoral evolution.”
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The EOM is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Ahead of Somaliland’s third presidential election on 13 November 2017, a 60-member team drawing on members from 27 countries has fully assembled in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, and will soon start deploying around Somaliland.
The international election observation mission (EOM) has been invited by Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) and is funded by the British government. The EOM will conduct its observation activities in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, emphasising the impartiality and independence of that observation.
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The EOM is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Ahead of Somaliland’s third presidential election on 13 November 2017, the first members of a team of 60 international election observers have arrived in Hargeisa.
The international election observation mission (EOM) has been invited by Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) and is funded by the British government. The EOM will conduct its observation activities in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, emphasising the impartiality of that observation.
The full press release can be read in English and Somali. The EOM is also on Facebook and Twitter.
The Somaliland voter registration process began on 16 January 2016, concluding on 26 September 2016, and was conducted by the Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) in all six regions of the country.
International development agency Progressio, the Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London (UCL), and members of Somaliland Focus (UK), observed the process at different points during this period.
Our international election observer (IEO) mission followed previous observations by these three organisations of Somaliland’s House of Representatives election in 2005, presidential election in 2010, and local council elections in 2012.
The purpose of the 2016 mission was to inform Somalilanders and key international actors about the quality and legitimacy of the voter registration process.
The mission’s full report can be downloaded here.
As part of the Hargeisa International Book Fair 2016, Somaliland Focus (UK) continued its campaigning on media freedom in Somaliland by participating in a panel discussion on media and leadership. The panel examined the media in Somaliland, including the legal environment, media standards, the importance of media in the run-up to elections in 2017, and the wider African media context.
In the light of the persistent high level of harassment and persecution of media organisations in Somaliland, Somaliland Focus expects its campaign to continue… Read the full panel address here
Somaliland Focus (UK) has again been compelled to write an open letter to H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud of Somaliland expressing our concerns about events involving ongoing harassment and intimidation of news media members in Somaliland
The letter was prompted by the arrest in Gabiley on the 30th and 31st October of reporters Mukhtar Nouh Ibrahim from Horn Cable TV, and Mohamed Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud from SomSat TV…Read the full letter here
Once again, Somaliland Focus (UK) has written an open letter to H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud of Somaliland expressing our concerns about events involving ongoing harassment and intimidation of news media members in Somaliland
The letter concerns the recent closing down and indefinite suspension of the Haatuf newspaper and its sister English-language weekly, Somaliland Times, by the police… Read the full letter here
Somaliland Focus (UK) has written an open letter to H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud of Somaliland expressing our concerns about events involving Hubaal newspaper and ongoing harassment and intimidation of news media members in Somaliland
The letter follows up on our earlier letter in November, addressed to Mr Mohammed Behi Younis, Foreign Minister and Mr Abdullahi Mohamed Dahir, Information Minister.. Read the full letter here
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