The National Electoral Commission of the Republic of Somaliland has opened a vital training session for 170 trainers of Trainers (ToT) from three national parties and seven political organizations.
This initiative aims to equip these trainers with the skills necessary to further educate Observers of Political Parties/Organizations who will be present at polling stations during the upcoming elections.
The elections are set for November 13.
This comes just a day after election campaigning officially begun across Somaliland and will run for 22 days, concluding on November 10, 2024.
The Barwaaqo Political Party launched its campaign today, with supporters gathering in designated public spaces throughout Somaliland.
Each new party is allocated just two days to conduct its campaign activities, with Barwaaqo having one more day to rally supporters on October 19.
Additionally, the three main parties—Waddani, Kulmiye, and UCID—competing in both the presidential and party elections are given three days each for their campaigns.
On another note, voting materials printed in the UK have arrived at Egal International Airport today. These elections are taking place two years later than scheduled due to a conflict between the opposition and the ruling party.
Meanwhile, a meeting to launch the voter awareness campaign organized by the Netherlands Multiparty Institute for Democracy (NMID) was attended by various civil society organizations led by Somaliland Association of Non-Governmental Organizations of SONSAF under chair Anwar Abdirahman Warsame.
The Chairman of the National Electoral Commission underscored at the meeting the imperative importance of civil organizations to take their role in educating the members of the public on the exercising of their political rights and understand well the procedures of casting ballots and associated electoral processes incumbent upon them.
The country is expected to go to polls on the 13th of November 2024 in a twin election for both the residency and official political parties as per constitution.
NEC commissioner Bidaan explained the requirements of civil organizations and how they are accountable as a commission to see to it that the education campaigns are done well and appropriate information is imparted to the populaces duly.
While instructing them to be as independent as possible, he cautioned them against partisanship, noting that educating the members of the public was of paramount importance.
Of note was the fact that the community organizations were urged to be timely and precise in disseminating the information and educating the populaces as per cue.
On their part, some of the civil society organizations in attendance pledged to be prompt and steadfast in the duties bestowed upon them and convey the messages to the masses appropriately.
