Denmark pushes for timely presidential elections in Somaliland

Already delayed twice, Somaliland’s presidential election is to be held on November 13 after which president Ahmed Silanyo is expected to end his one term plus eight months extension mandate.

By Jamal Ibrahim, jamal@alleastafrica.com

HARGEISA – Representatives from the Danish government have stressed the need for timely and credible elections in the breakaway northern Somalia republic of Somaliland during meetings with Somaliland leaders on Monday.

Already delayed twice, Somaliland’s presidential election is to be held on November 13 after which president Ahmed Silanyo is expected to end his one term plus eight months extension mandate.

Mette Knudsen, the Danish ambassador to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and the Seychelles who led a delegation that arrived in the port city of Berbera and held talks with Somaliland leaders at the state house has reiterated that under no circumstances including logistical and budgetary constraints, elections ‘must not’ be delayed this time, according to officials privy with the meeting.

During their meeting, Ms. Knudsen also emphasized that the international community expects to see ‘free’ and ‘fair’ election held in Somaliland at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Mohamud Hashi Abdi, the state minister for Somaliland’s presidency who attended the meeting on behalf of the president told reporters that the talks have largely focused on the election and undertaking development projects in Somaliland.

The minister hasn’t given further details about the meeting which followed previous visit by representatives from the international community since last year. The U.S ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz has also arrived in Somaliland on his first visit to Somaliland late last month.

During his one day visit in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, Mr. Schwartz urged Somaliland leaders to make sure holding timely elections.

In the meantime, pressure is growing on Somaliland leaders after delays of presidential elections twice last year, which resulted in the suspension of the development aid to the Somaliland Development Fund, a support line through which donors were supporting Somaliland’s development goals and filling a critical gap supporting projects by the international community.

The latter has also forced Somaliland to stand alone in funding the ongoing election process, initially funded by the international community which was angered by the electoral delays.

Currently, three candidates from the three top political parties have expressed interest in the upcoming presidential election, with voters will have to elect the 5th president of Somaliland which has broken away from Somalia in 1991.

The next president will serve four years term which can be renewed twice.

(Additional reporting and editing by Judy Maina in Nairobi, Kenya)