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Suldaanka

LIVE: Somaliland Election Update

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The National Electoral Commission have decided to block all the popular Social Media networks  when polling closes 6pm on Monday evening. 

 

 

 

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Somaliland Election: Statement by International Partners

Delegation of international partners will visit Hargeisa to urge a peaceful, inclusive, credible and transparent presidential election

 

The purpose of the visit is to demonstrate the partners’ continued engagement and strong encouragement to Somaliland’s democratic transition process and, in that context, to support a peaceful, inclusive, credible and transparent presidential election on 13 November.

 

Read More Source

 

This Statement was signed by the following countries:

United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and United States of America.

 

 

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9 minutes ago, Suldaanka said:

The National Electoral Commission have decided to block all the popular Social Media networks  when polling closes 6pm on Monday evening. 

 

 

 

 

Human Rights Watch response to the NEC's decision.

 

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Shuttering Social Media During Somaliland’s Elections

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On November 13, the self-declared autonomous state of Somaliland will be holding presidential elections, the third since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. The incumbent is stepping down and the elections are pitting the ruling party’s candidate against two opponents, in what commentators describe as a close race.

 

Today, the national electoral commission announced at a press conference that it will be imposing a shutdown of social media from November 13 until the election results come out.

 

While governments have sought to justify such bans on the grounds that election commentary may spark violence or the proliferation of “fake news,” the public’s access to information is key to free and fair elections.

 

 

 

Read More Source

 

 

 

 

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Somaliland votes next week. Its biggest challenges come after the election.

 

Washington Post Reports

 

On Nov. 13, Somalilanders will vote for a new president. The campaign kicked off in dramatic fashion in October with Somaliland’s first-ever presidential debate shown live on national television, and large campaign rallies.

 

Here’s what you need to know:

 

Somaliland has a long history of elections and executive turnover

 

A former British protectorate, Somaliland enjoyed five days of sovereign independence before uniting with Somalia in 1960. Following a brutal civil war, Somaliland dissolved its union with Somalia in 1991 and continues to exist as an unrecognized de facto state.

 

With 4 million people and a territory of 68,000 square miles, Somaliland impresses outside observers with its sustained process of electoral democracy and a hybrid blend of traditional and modern state institutions. Somaliland’s stability stands in contrast to the insecurity and poor governance in neighboring Somalia.

 

 Read More Washington Post

 

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VoA Reports

Recognition a Key Issue in Somaliland's Presidential Election

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WASHINGTON / HARGEISA, SOMALILAND — 

Somaliland's three presidential candidates have concluded their campaigns ahead of Monday's poll to elect the next leader of the breakaway region.

Muse Bihi of the ruling Kulmiye party, Faisal Ali Waraabe of the For Justice and Development party (UCID) and Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi of the Wadani party held their final rallies this week in the capital, Hargeisa.

 

A central issue, as always, is how to win international recognition for Somaliland. Somalia, which was once governed by Italy, wants Somaliland to be part of a single Somali state. But Somaliland, which used to be a British colony and broke away from the rest of Somalia in 1991, wants to be a separate country.

All three candidates favor a fully independent Somaliland but have different visions of how to achieve it.

 

 

Read More Voice of America

 

 

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galbeedi   

I hope it all goes peacefully. I am hearing that a large number of the youth did not register fr this election. Because of the bio metric nature of the registration Somaliland youth between and 18 years old and 28, did not register for fear of their actual identity could be accessed by European and other Western nations.

 

Wiil kasta oo dhoof rajo ka qaba isma diwaan gelin.

 

A friend told me that in Borama,  in his own house hold about 9 youth from high school to university did not register. For them  the opportunity of migration is more important for any elections. Also , in Awdal ,among the 145,000 registered in the spring 35% did not collect their registration cards. Thousands of citizens who reside Djibouti and has family on both sides of the border could not cross because of the $32 dollar border taxes. A family of could not afford to pay it's meager resources for the card. Among the 26,000 registered in Zayac district only 17,000 collected their card.

 

If I were the election commission, I would watch Gabiley and Burco were most of the large frauds in Somaliland usually take place. In 2010, 360,000 registered in Togdheer, yet few months later only 120,000 voted. 

 

My instincts tell me that overall the number of voters might not even reach 600,000 if the system detects people who have double cards or the children who get registered despite their age being 10 or 12 years old. 

 

Any way let the party begin.

 

 

 

 

 

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Indeed there were many reasons why the registration was not as successfully taken as was predicted initially. 

 

Despite the NEC assuring the citizens that their data (Bio metric) data will not leave the country no matter what - which was the case - i.e. the reason why the printing of the cards took place in Hargeisa rather than in Europe. But never the less, I agree, there were a lot of people that did not bother because of the potential that it could fall into the European border control systems. 

 

One other major obstacle was the whole process, the process was just too much.  specially the fact that the person who registered for it, can only collect it from the same place they registered at. Considering that Somalis are majority nomads, that is just not feasible. 

 

Which explains the fact that 30% did not even collect their cards. 

 

Another reason given is that there are lot of people who are dissatisfied with the current flag-bearers of the Political parties. And just didn't bother at all to make the effort. 

 

Having said that, however, those who registered can be qualified as being part of the cleanest voter registration system in the world. 

 

Each polling station has got a list of those who are allowed to vote. There cannot be more than that list. If there is, then that station will need to be scrutinised or even cancelled. 

 

On top of 600 party officials doing observations for their Political party, there are 60 International observers from Somaliland's friends, it is a bit harder to hide things. 

 

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