THE SCHEDULING OF SOMALILAND ELECTION

Without going into the full details of the laws regulating the timing of the elections, the National Elections Commission, in consultation with the national political parties and the donor nations that finance Somaliland elections, is the sole authority that recommends the exact timing of any election. Whether an election is moved forward, held on a previously agreed upon date, or rescheduled is the sole prerogative of our National Elections Commission.

The recommendation is then passed on to the House of Elders. This legislative chamber has the final say on the exact date. Once the Elders issue the final
election writ, then the law is passed on the president for final signature. That being the case, the leaders of our national parties have no mandate to issue marching orders to the National Elections Commission. The inflammatory rhetoric in the media is counter productive; our politicians are bound to respect the laws of the land.

Before any date is set for this election, the certain hurdles should be cleared.

First and foremost, the three political parties, the National Elections Commission and European Union agency that finances our elections should sign a memorandum of understanding with the following stipulations:

The tabulations of the voter registration drive will go through the main Server;
All double/triple votes will be automatically discarded;
The number of purged votes from each region should be on the public record

Without this agreement in place, there will never be a free and a fair election. Furthermore, the National Elections Commission has yet to submit their statement of expenses for the three months: November, December 2008, and January 2009. Without an audited statement of expenses, Interpeace will not release any funds for the presidential election. This election is a litmus test to our commitment to qualify for recognition. I hope our national political parties, the Commission, and the government do seriously understand the gravity and the magnitude of the issue.

Finally, a word of caution to the leaders of our political parties: Sooner or later, the election will be held. In the meantime, please be patient till the Commission submits it is regulation. Till then, no more threats and no blackmailing. The same thing applies to the die hard supporters of any party.