|
Tensions Rising in Somaliland Ahead of Vote
By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
07 August 2009
Escalating tensions ahead of a presidential vote in the
self-declared republic of Somaliland are raising fears that a
prolonged political crisis may give the al-Qaida-linked Somali
militant group, al-Shabab, the opportunity to spread its extremist
ideology.
The associate professor of religious studies and Arabic at the
University of South Africa, Iqbal Jhazbhay, says political bickering
between the government and opposition parties in Somaliland is
threatening to derail much-delayed elections there, scheduled for
September 27.
Jhazbhay says the feud must be resolved quickly before it inflicts
irreparable damage on the breakaway territory's democratic system.
"There is no doubt that this is a defining moment," he said. "This
polarization could pose a threat to peace and security in the sense
that it would polarize the populace, lead to possibly things
spilling out of control, the possibility of extreme Islamic elements
like al-Shabab seeing this as an opportunity to advance their
agenda."
At the center of Somaliland's brewing crisis is the question of
whether the territory can hold an election without a voter
registration list.
A U.N.-partnered organization called Interpeace had been helping the
government of incumbent President Dahir Riyale with the voter
registration process, and was planning to monitor the election.
But last week, the government expelled the head of Interpeace from
Somaliland, accusing the organization of, among other things,
illegally sharing voter information with officials of Somaliland's
two main opposition groups, Kulmiye and UCID.
Interpeace has denied any wrongdoing. But it acknowledged that the
voter registration system was, in its words, seriously abused while
being implemented. Some government supporters have charged that
multiple registrations in favor of opposition parties had taken
place in several districts.
Somaliland's National Election Commission ruled that the
presidential election could proceed without the voter registration
list, and the president quickly endorsed the ruling. Kulmiye and
UCID said the decision to abandon the list is tantamount to high
treason. Opposition members of parliament are now said to be
preparing a motion to impeach President Riyale.
Professor Jhazbhay says he fears if a compromise cannot be reached
soon, the feud may cause some Somalilanders to become disillusioned
with democracy, and he fears that could strengthen the hand of al-Shabab
extremists. Al-Shabab, which is listed as a terrorist organization
by the United States, is currently battling to overthrow a
U.N.-backed government in the Somali capital Mogadishu, and has
vowed to fight until all of Somalia is united under an
ultra-conservative Islamic caliphate.
"In the case of Somaliland, they have tried to shape an agenda and a
discourse saying that advancing democracy is a Western exercise,
where countries like Somaliland end up being led and following an
American agenda," he said. "It is an attempt to mobilize people and
alienate them from what is clearly a home-grown democracy of Somali
customary laws and Islamic law."
Top al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane hails from the Somaliland
capital, Hargeisa. Godane is suspected of ordering the deadly
suicide attacks in Hargeisa last October at a U.N. compound, the
Ethiopian consulate, and the presidential palace.
Somaliland's current president, Dahir Riyale, was peacefully elected
to his first five-year term in 2003, and, until recently, the
territory was held up as an example of what the rest of Somalia
could achieve through democratic reforms and good governance.
But the presidential vote that should have taken place in August
2008 has been postponed several times. The delay has raised concern
from key allies, such as the United States and the European Union,
about Somaliland's commitment to democracy.
In recent years, Somaliland has been closely cooperating with the
West in combating terrorism and piracy, in exchange for the
international diplomatic recognition it has sought since declaring
independence from Somalia in 1991.
Source:VOA
|