Contextualising Somaliland Elections: Clan, Ethnicity and Parties

Date:            11 June 2013

Time:            17:30 - 20:00 

Location:      Room G.01, Central House. 14 Upper Woburn  

                     Place. WC1H 0NN. London

^{Photo by ©Kate Stanworth}

Panel discussion, report launch and photography exhibition.

Background

Somaliland's record in organising elections is impressive and widely reported. Over the past eleven years, they have organised two presidential elections, one parliamentary and, on 28th November 2012, their second local council. In each case, the exercise was predominantly peaceful and marked by enthusiasm of campaigners, candidates and voters. Donors have also responded favourably. As impressive as the process has been to date, though, the inevitable tensions of representative democratic processes are also evident, and becoming more so as the system becomes increasingly established, including delays, political standoffs and attempts at multiple voting.

These are the successes and challenges involved in a transition to a system of representative democracy. In some ways, they are unique to the context in which they take place. It is equally true, however, that many of the challenges and successes experienced in Somaliland are similar to those elsewhere.

Panel discussion and report launch

This event seeks to display the colour, vitality and vigour of a process that is, in many ways, healthy and progressive, as well as looking at some of the key challenges that Somaliland faces. It also aims to do so, in part, by presenting the Somaliland experience in the context of parallel experiences in Sub-Saharan Africa. There will be a panel discussion presenting differing geographical perspectives, followed by a reception and exhibition of photographs from Somaliland's 2012 local elections. This event marks the public launch of the report of the International Election Observation to the 2012 local elections in Somaliland.

Exhibition of photographs by Kate Stanworth

Kate Stanworth is a London-based photographer who travelled to Somaliland in November 2012 to document the local elections. She has worked on documentary projects in Europe, South America and Africa.

This event has been put together by the DPU with the support of Progressio

Everyone is welcome to attend!