Jan 12, 2009

Somaliland: Voter Registration Successfully Completed


Active ImageProcess said to be orderly and transparent by international and national observers.
 
 
 
Below is an article published by the American Chronicle:
 

It is quite clear that the international community are satisfied with the successful and peaceful completion of the Somaliland voter registration programme.

Both the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) from the United States of America, along with other international observers have expressed their satisfaction with the orderly and transparent implementation of the Somaliland voter registration campaign.

Despite attempts by certain undemocratic elements to disrupt the process, including the recent terrorist […] attacks in Hargeisa on the 29th of October [2008], the voter registration programme has now been completed and will be certified within the next few weeks after a rigorous review.

The people of Somaliland have one common goal, democracy. A society based on dialogue, discussion, consensus, and leadership based on meritocracy and the choice of the people.

The people of Somaliland share a belief in democracy and the right of every eligible citizen to exercise his or her franchise. Using the most recent technology the people of Somaliland from the East to the West, North to South came out in their tens of thousands to register for the 2009 Presidential and local assembly elections.

This voter registration programme is a further step in a process that began under the acacia tree in 1991, through several conferences in Buroa, Sheekh, Borama, and Hargeisa. These conferences highlighted the ability of the people of Somaliland to reach a consensus through dialogue and discussions.

Since the 2001 referendum to cement the sovereignty of Somaliland, the people of this nascent but democratic nation have elected a President and a parliament, freely and fairly.

In the spring of 2009, the people of Somaliland will once again go the polls to elect a President and members of the local assembly. It is obvious to the most impartial observer that democracy has taken root in Somaliland[…], and the people of Somaliland will not be intimidated nor thwarted by desperate acts of terrorism.

The dye is cast; Somaliland is marching towards the fulfillment of a long cherished goals, democracy, security, prosperity and international recognition. These are noble aims, and there is every reason to be confident of the ability of the people of Somaliland to attain these goals.

2009 promises to be a historic year for Somaliland and its citizens, and after eighteen years of stability, peace and progress, the nation is now, more than ever, ready to take its place among the democratic countries of the world.