Friday, December 21st, 2012
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| International Somaliland Local Election Observers |
With results finally confirmed in Somaliland’s local
elections, held on November 28th 2012, the international election
observation mission assembled by Progressio, DPU and Somaliland Focus (UK)
congratulates the people of Somaliland and the National Electoral Commission
(NEC) on a lively and enthusiastic election campaign and voting process. But in
advance of writing our final report, to be released in mid-2013, we must also
report concerns about the election and its aftermath…
The full release is attached and pasted below, and
at http://www.somalilandfocus.org.uk/
To arrange interviews, contact Conrad Heine
at +44 7870 642 852
***Photographs can also be provided upon request***
Follow on Twitter: @SomalilandFocus
For immediate release
Somaliland local elections:
International Election Observers applaud commitment to democracy, but say
action is required to ensure future election integrity.
With results finally confirmed in Somaliland’s local
elections, held on November 28th 2012, the international election
observation mission assembled by Progressio, DPU and Somaliland Focus (UK)
congratulates the people of Somaliland and the National Electoral Commission
(NEC) on a lively and enthusiastic election campaign and voting process.
However, in advance of writing our final report, to be
released in mid-2013, we must also report a number of substantial concerns.
The election’s aftermath has been marked by a build-up of
tension over the course of a slow counting process. Once results began to be
released, the NEC came under extreme pressure over disputes to results from
several sides, and was subjected to a shooting attack on its headquarters in
the town of Erigavo. Regrettably, post-election protests saw a number of deaths
in protests in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital.
Although the NEC has now moved to confirm results, and we
have been heartened by various political leaders urging their supporters to
maintain peace and security when protesting, we recognise that the
post-election climate remains tense.
Our post-poll concerns follow those we expressed
immediately following polling day, when we noted that observers reported
attempts at multiple and underage voting and what appeared to be attempts to
mobilise voters to engage in these attempts. While observers also noted polling
station staff attempting to prevent such activity, such reports pose concerns
for the integrity of Somaliland’s electoral process.
Now, a month on from voting, it is important that
disputes around the election outcome are peacefully settled. Without peaceful
settlement of disputes, Somaliland’s admirable democratic tradition may be
damaged. We urge all Somalilanders to respect the electoral laws and
procedures, so that future elections can be approached effectively and with
confidence.
Specifically, we repeat the recommendation we made
immediately following polling day: in advance of the next elections, we call
for Somaliland to adopt a robust system for voter/citizen registration, in
order to improve confidence in the electoral process.
In closing, we would like to highlight the many positives
around this election: once again, Somalilanders showed how dedicated they are
to the unique democratic spiritthey have crafted from their challenging
history. In particular, we are delighted to note real progress in inclusion of
youth and women in the process: the apparent election of ten female candidates
represents a huge step forward, and we look forward to further progress on this
front.
Dr Michael Walls, the mission’s joint co-ordinator, said “Somaliland
has made enormous progress in achieving a difficult transition to a form of
representative democracy. We have long been impressed with that process, and
call on all Somalilanders to maintain their commitment to a peaceful form of
democratic and participatory decision-making.”
Notes to Editors
- For further information or to arrange an interview with
a member of the coordination team, please contact Conrad Heine on +44 7870
642 852 / media@somalilandfocus.org.uk, or Lucy
Jenkinson on 020 7326 2011 / lucyj@progressio.org.uk , or Tim Aldred on
020 7326 2003 / +44 7740 543 047 / tim@progressio.org.uk.
- Somaliland declared unilateral independence from
Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s government. It remains
internationally unrecognised.
- A team of 50 observers from 17 countries was assembled
by Progressio, DPU and Somaliland Focus (UK) to observe Somaliland’s local
elections on November 28th 2012. The mission follows on from
observations of Somaliland’s inaugural local elections in 2002, followed
by the parliamentary elections in 2005, judged by observers as “basically
free and fair”, and the presidential election in 2010 http://www.progressio.org.uk/sites/default/files/Somaliland-elections-2010-report.pdf
, which saw an orderly transfer of power and was judged “a peaceful
expression of popular will”.
- The 2012 mission covered almost 20% of more than 1,700
polling stations in 15 of the 21 districts across Somaliland in which
voting took place.
- The mission was invited by Somaliland’s National
Electoral Commission (NEC), and funded by Britain’s Department for
International Development (DFID). We presented a post-poll interim report
to the NEC and donors, and a final report will follow in 2013.
- A pre-election assessment of the conditions for the
local elections took place in 2012 and can be viewed here: http://www.progressio.org.uk/sites/progressio.org.uk/files/Preparing-for-local-elections-Sld-2012.pdf
- For more information about Progressio, please see www.progressio.org.uk and about Somaliland
Focus, see www.somalilandfocus.org.uk.
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