Somaliland: Voter
Registration Will Be Completed
The Somaliland National Elections
Commission has recently commenced the voter registration drive for
the 2009 Presidential and local assemblies´ elections briefly
postponed as the result of the October 29th terrorist attacks in
Hargeisa.
The voter registration programmed funded in part by the Somaliland
government, the European Union, the United States government and
several other non-governmental organizations is using bio-metrical
technology to assure the validity of the process and the accuracy of
the eligible voters across Somaliland.
The voter registration programme has now been completed in five,(
Awdal, Marodi Jeh, Sahil, Togdher and Sanaag), of the six Somaliland
provinces.(n.b. future voter programmes will take place in each of
the 16 newly created provinces of Somaliland).
The last leg of the voter registration programme began on the 2nd of
January in the region of Sool. There are expectations that the
process will go smoothly in this region. The killing of two
Somaliland soldiers who were providing security for the National
Elections Commission officials outside of Buholdle in Sool will not
halt the process.
The people of Somaliland deplore the killing of these two soldiers,
gunned down as they did their duty for their nation. It was not
unexpected that certain elements who fear the ballot box would
resort to their usual modus operandi.
In a region beset by violence and mayhem, Somaliland stands as a
beacon of success and stability. The people and the government of
Somaliland remain vigilant against such crimes, and assure the
international community that the voter registration will proceed and
the 2009 elections will be held on time and any remaining issues
will be resolved in a democratic and judicial manner, as befits a
politically mature and stable nation.
The path of democracy is a long and arduous journey, and the people
of Somaliland have been on this trek for the last eighteen years,
and they will not be deterred or thwarted by acts of desperation
from the undemocratic elements.
The citizens of Somaliland will be registered and they will exercise
their democratic rights in the spring of 2009.
By: Ahmed Kheyre
|