By Dr Mohamed Abdillahi Omar
momar@hotmail.co.uk
Somaliland’s fragile democracy comes to test once again on November 13 when the country holds its presidential elections.
This will be yet another big moment for the country that for the last three decades fought to gain international recognition, an effort that remains ongoing.
But despite that lack of international recognition, Somaliland continues to remain a beacon of peace and democracy in a region marred by internal strife.
Further, the international community may not have officially recognized Somaliland, but the interest with which they are following the events leading to the elections lends credence of our country’s importance in the global map.
I have held several meetings with western diplomats in Nairobi over the past few days and all of them have impressed on me how important it is for Somaliland to hold peaceful, credible and transparent presidential elections and I have told them that it will be the people of Somaliland who will have won when we finally and peacefully hold the elections in a fair, transparent and credible manner.
Our international partners- Denmark, European Union Delegation, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA have all reiterated their commitment to working with the NEC and all election stakeholders to support the timely delivery of inclusive, free, and fair elections.
Somaliland has made important strides towards creating one of the most inclusive multiparty democratic systems in East Africa since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991. This will be the fourth presidential election by universal suffrage in Somaliland. Previous elections have resulted in smooth transitions of power between parties.
There had been concerns from the citizens and the international community over the events preceding the announcement of the presidential elections date and friends of Somaliland around the world had been clearly worried over the trajectory the country was taking about the politics and peace in the country under the incumbent government.
The 2024 presidential election should build on the success of the competitive May 2021 lower house and local Council elections, in which the ruling Kulmiye party won fewer seats than the opposition, Waddani National Party of which I am the deputy chairman.
Over the last three decades, Somaliland had cultivated a legacy of consensus building and locally led conflict mediation that had enabled it to resolve several election-related disputes in the past.
Today, our country is in need of a leadership and diplomacy that is built on uniting its people, reduction of internal conflict, enhancing regional stability and increase in our relations with the international community. Our party Waddani has a clear plan on how Somaliland will improve its international relations.
Our plan is to have clear cut policies that engages constructively with the world, our neighbours in the Horn of Africa and with the key actors in Red Sea politics and at the same time encouraging the Somaliland diaspora to participate in politics, nation building and marketing country abroad.
As we head to the elections, Somaliland must continue to strengthen the inclusive political and security processes that have distinguished it over the decades for it to bear the fruits of these efforts. As a party, we know we have a big responsibility to restore public confidence and deal with social divisions created by the current government.
We also need to learn from the electoral success of our neighboring countries like Kenya where partnerships between various political parties are established to forge community cohesion and political stability, which will also enhance strengths through strong multi party democratic ideals.
The author is the former Foreign Minister of Somaliland and the deputy chairman of the Waddani Party
