National Election Commission Chair Resigns

Written by QRN
Mar 20, 2008


Hargeisa(QARAN)-

The Chair of the Somaliland National Elections Commission (NEC), Mudane Mohamed Yusuf Ahmed has resigned. According to reliable sources close the commission, Mudane Mohamed Yusuf has already taken the decision to resign, although there have been no official confirmation from the NEC or the Somaliland government.

The alleged resignation of the NEC Chair follows recent accusations from the two official opposition parties in Somaliland, KULMIYE and UCID, that the recently published lists of NEC and Voter Registration officers in Marodi Jeh, Awdal and Sahil regions were illegally selected.

Mudane Mohamed Yusuf Ahmed is one of the three members on the National Elections Commission appointed by the President of Somaliland, Mudane Dahir Rayale Kahin.

Qarannews will endeavour to bring further news as it becomes available.

Omar Mohamed Farah
Hargeisa
Qarannews

A New Approach to Social Development in Somaliland

Oodwayne.blogspot.com
Mar 19, 2008


Hargeisa
On the 17th March, 2008 the Community Driven Recovery and Development programme was officially launched at the Mansoor Hotel in Hargeisa,Somaliland.

This programme is a partnership between the Somaliland Ministry of Family Welfare and Social Development, some 20 communities of Borama and Berbera, the World Bank, the United Kingdom government, UNICEF, the Danish Refugee Council and UN Habitat.

The programme has developed over the last 12 months, and involves community mobilization, establishing Community Development Committees, gathering information about the communities and their needs. A project implementation unit has been set up in Hargeisa to support the programme with technical specialists.

The programme builds on experiences and lessons learned from the participating partners in building bottom-up local governance and to take decisions on how to use available resources more efficiently.

UNICEF, the Danish Refugee Council and UN Habitat along with other development partners are bringing resources through their existing programmes, such as, water and sanitation, school improvement, income generation and small scale infrastructure projects.

The CDRD will make available a block grant of $15000 per community when the community has developed a viable project proposal that meets with agreed criteria.

This programme marks a new and ground breaking development approach in Somaliland because it puts decision directly in the hands of communities. It also helps the government plan and allocate its resources based on demands from local level.

For further details contact

Ivanoe Fugali
Project Coordinator
Hargeisa
Somaliland

Source CDRD Press Release March 17th, 2008

Testimony by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer.

Dr.Frazer's testimony to the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Written by QRN
Mar 19, 2008 at 01:50 AM


Hargeisa(QARAN)-

Testimony by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer.

"Evaluating U.S. Policy Objectives and Options on the Horn of Africa"


Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa March 11, 2008

For a complete transcript of all the testimonies by other panel members please follow the link.

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/hearings/2008/hrg080311a.html

Somaliland Booming Nation

Booming Businesses in Somaliland PDF Print E-mail
Written by VOA
Mar 12, 2008 at 01:53 AM

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We continue our focus on Somaliland and look at the capital, Hargeisa, and other places that are expanding rapidly. Somalilanders are returning home from the US and other countries, bringing their skills and money with them. VOA’s Cathy Majtenyi reports on Somaliland and its efforts by expatriates to boost and revitalize the country's economy.

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Somaliland National Elections Commission. List of NEC and Voter Registration Officers

Written by Qarannews.
Mar 10, 2008 at 12:55 AM
Hargeisa(QARAN)-

The Chair of the Somaliland National Elections Commission, (NEC), Mudane Mohamed Yusuf Ahmed recently gave a press conference on the Commission's visits to the Marodi Jeh, Awdal and Sahil regions of Somaliland.

Mudane Mohamed Yusuf stated that "the Commission visited the following regions, Marodi Jeh, Awdal and Sahil, along with members of the Somaliland House of Elders and senior officers from the Home Affairs ministry in order to ascertain the following:-

-To open NEC offices in these regions and begin the work of the commission.

-To meet with the residents of these regions, including but not limited to, women, youth, the elders and religious scholars, the business community and local regional authorities, to advise and consult on the best way to undertake the voter registrations in their respective regions.

-To ascertain the needs of the regions in terms of implementing the voter registration drive and subsequent elections.

As a result of the visit, the Somaliland National Election Commission has been able to put in place the relevant local structures for the voter registration programme, and the following are the list of all members of the NEC regional offices in the Marodi Jeh, Awdal and Sahil regions.


The Commission Office for Marodi Jeh [Hargeisa]

1-Eng. Ismail Hassan Omar, Chair.
2- Abdillahi Saeed Farah, Deputy Chair.
3-Khadar Hasan Qabale, Secretary.

NEC Hargiesa.

1- Ali Iman Jama. Chair
2- Ahmed Abdillahi Ilmi. Deputy Chair.
3- Nasir Awil Ahmed. Secretary
4- Abdi Saleban Mohamed. Member
5- Faisal Abdillahi Ahmed. Member
6- Aden Aw-Bashir Ahmed. Member.


Registration Officers for Maroodi Jeh Region

1- Hamse Mohamed Ali. Chair.
2- Mohumud Yasin Dini. Deputy Chair.
3- Mohamed Nur Hassan. Secretary.


Registraion Officers for Hargeisa.

1-Ismail Abdi Dahir. Chair.
2- Jama Ahmed Osman. Deputy Chair.
3- Rashid Abdi Ismail. Secretary.

NEC Gabiley.

1- Abdirahman Muhumed Badil. Chair.
2- Jama Da'ud Ibrahim. Deputy Chair.
3- Mubarik Osman Hussien. Secretary.
4- Mustapha Ahmed Abdillahi. Member
5- Abdi Farah Nur. Member
6- Ubah Omar Gafane. Member.

Registration Officers for Gabiley.

1- Hussien Hassan Gabobe. Chair.
2- Abdikador Mohamed Da'ud. Deputy Chair.
3- Mahad Mohamed Elmi. Secretary.

NEC Salahley.

1- Aden Aw-Ismail Hassan. Chair.
2- Ismail Abdi Ibrahim. Deputy Chair.
3- Mawlid Egal Samatar. Secretary.

Registration Officers for Salahley.

1- Sidik Osman Ali. Chair
2- Ahmed Ali Hersi. Deputy Chair.
3- Jamal Hussien Dahir. Secretary.

NEC Bali Gubadle.

1- Hussien Hassan Mohamed. Chair.
2- Ibrahim Farah Yusuf. Deputy Chair.
3- Good Nur Muhumed. Secretary.

Registration Officers for Bali Gubadle.

1- Saeed Yusuf Aden. Chair.
2- Hamse Mohamed Aden. Deputy Chair.
3- Abdi karim Ahmed Muhumed. Secretary.


The Commission Office for Awdal.

1- Omar Yusuf Mohamed. Chair.
2- Mohamed Nur Suldan. Deputy Chair.
3- Sayid Ali Omar. Secretary.

NEC Boroma.

1- Hassan Haji Nur Mohamed. Chair.
2- Abdillahi Mohamud Guled. Deputy Chair.
3- Idris Farah Muse. Secretary.
4- Abdirahman Dihod Malow. Member.
5- Ahmed Dahir Hassan. Member.
6- Ahmed Farah Aynan. Member.

Voter Registration Officers for Awdal.

1- Farah Elmi Mohamud. Chair.
2- Mus'af Hersi Ali. Deputy Chair.
3- Khadra Jama Muhumed. Secretary.


Voter Registration Officers for Borame.

1- Ali Elmi Goohe. Chair.
2- Salan Abdi Cige. Deputy Chair.
3- Mohamed Abdi Elmi. Secretary.

NEC Baki.

1-Abib Yusuf Jama. Chair
2- Elabe Mohamed Hure. Deputy Chair.
3- Du'ale Ahmed. Secretary.

Voter Registration Officers for Baki.

1- Dahir Hassan Warsame. Chair.
2- Fahmi Abdi Bidar. Deputy Chair.
3- Mohamed Saed Du'ale. Secretary.

NEC Zeila.

1- Hassan Dahir Hadi. Chair.
2- Awale Ismail Hassan. Deputy Chair.
3- Ibrahim Hassan Ahmed. Secretary
4- Mursal Ma'allin Areye. Member.
5- Osman Ali Ma'idane. Member.
6- Saeed Muse Ibrahim. Member.

Voter Registration Officers for Zeila.

1- Abdillahi Farah Ma'idane. Chair.
2- Ali Allale Riyale. Deputy Chair.
3- Hamud Ibrahim Migane. Secretary.

NEC Lughaya.

1- Maris Dahir Halas. Chair.
2- Elias Abdi Aden. Deputy Chair.
3- Abdinasir Ahmed Ibrahim. Secretary.

Voter Registration Officers for Lughaya.

1- Hussein Makahil Roble. Chair.
2- Abdi Hussien Ali. Deputy Chair.
3- Muse Jeeke Araye. Secretary.

The Commission Office for Sahil.


1- Sidik Ahmed Haji Mohamud. Chair.
2- Mohamed Abi Ahmed. Deputy Chair.
3- Mohamed Abdi Jama. Secretary.

NEC Berbera.

1- Omar Aden Kahin. Chair.
2- Dirie Abyan Mohamed. Deputy Chair.
3- Abdillahi Nur Abdi. Secretary.


Voter Registration Officers for Sahil
1- Abdillahi Aden Gurey. Chair.
2- Abdillahi Hassan Ismail. Deputy Chair.
3- Ahmednur Abdi Muse. Secretary.


Voter Registration Officers for Berbera.

1- Osman Ahmed Ismail Chair.
2- Mohamed Ismail Ibrahim. Deputy Chair.
3- Abdillahi Muse Jama. Secretary.

NEC Sheikh.

1- Mohamed Haji Yusuf Saeed. Chair.
2- Saeed Ali Hassan. Deputy Chair.
3- Ibrahim Guled Mohameud. Secretary.

Voter Registration Officers for Sheikh.

1- Dahir Haji Abdi Haji Abokor. Chair.
2- Hassan Kaid Abdillahi Hussien. Deputy Chair.
3- Ahmed Ismail Warsame. Secretary.

The list of the NEC and Voter registration officers from Togdher, Sanag and Sool regions have yet to be confirmed. Qarannews will publish the list for these regions upon availability.

Omar Mohamed Farah
Qarannews
Hargeisa.

Somaliland:A Debate to mark International Women's Day

Written by Qaran news
Mar 08, 2008 at 02:07 AM



Hargeisa.(QARAN)-

The Somaliland Minister of Family and Social Development, Marwo Fadumo Sudi Hasan participated in a debate held at the Imperial Hotel in Hargeisa to discuss the role of women in the Somaliland political, economic and social arenas.

The debate which was organised by the ministry was held to commemorate International Women's Day on March 8th.

The participants of the debate included, Marwo Baar Saeed who is a member of the Somaliland parliament, Marwo Shukri Haji Ismail Bandare, a former member of the Somaliland Elections Commission and members of the Somaliland youth umbrella group, Sonyo, as well as, other members of the general public.

During the opening ceremony, Marwo Fadumo Sudi gave a brief speech to highlight the importance of the International Women's Day and the role the women of Somaliland play in the development of the country.

Marwo Fadumo Sudi stated that the women of Somaliland are the backbone of the nation in terms of economic and social development, "I want everyone to know, and we must be clear about this, Somaliland women contribute to more than 80% of the family income, through small business endeavours which are the foundation of both the family and subsequently the country" declared the minister.

"The women of Somaliland can achieve even more with educational and social support, and I urge both the Somaliland government and the indigenous agencies to play a more significant role in these areas" stated, Marwo Fadumo Sudi, the Somaliland minister of Family and Social Development.

Meanwhile, Marwo Baar Saeed remarked on the experiences of Somaliland women during the last parliamentary elections.

"The most difficult obstacle we faced at the last parliamentary elections was due to the cultural practices in our society. Because, neither the communities of our birth, nor of marriage, were receptive to the idea of female candidates" stated Representative, Marwo Baar Saeed.

Marwo Baar Saeed proposed in her remarks that Somaliland women became more involved in the political arena and called for the people of Somaliland to offer their support to prospective female candidates.

On her part, Marwo Shukri Haji Ismail called upon the lawmakers in the Somaliland parliament to pave the way for more female candidates by applying a non-gender based criteria for selecting prospective parliamentary candidates in future elections.

Marwo Shukri Haji Ismail also described her experience as the only female members of the previous National Elections Commission, an experience which she described as fulfilling.

Marwo Shukri Haji Ismail paid tribute to her former colleagues at the Elections Commission for creating a professional atmosphere, but warned that "unless more was done to further the cause of female candidates, women in Somaliland may forced to take drastic actions, such as withholding taxes and participating in other civil protests"

At the conclusion of the debate, the Director-General of the Family and Social Development ministry, Mudane Ahmed Hasan Yusuf gave a report of the efforts of the department to further the social development agenda in the country with the particular emphasis on family development and creating more opportunites for girls in Somaliland schools and universities.

Other speakers at the debate included, Marwo Kaltun Abdillahi Elmi from Now, Mohamed Yusuf Aw Ali from Sonyo and several other dignitaries.

Omar Mohamed Farah
Qarannews
Hargeisa

LORD AVEBURY RESPONSE LETTER TO SUPPORT QARAN PARTY's CASE

Lord Avebury responds to Dr. Gabose's letter and continues to press Lord Malloch-Brown KCMG, Foreign & Commonwealth Office to impress upon the Somaliland administration to allow free and fair elections in Somaliland. He makes one of his strongest arguments yet why Qaran should participate in the coming elections.



From Lord Avebury

020-7274 4617
March 7, 2008

Dear Mark,

Further to our correspondence about the treatment of the Qaran Political Association in Somaliland, I attach a memorandum which has been emailed to me from Dr Mohamed A Gabose, Chairman of the QPA, about the continuing restrictions on their activities.
I share Dr Gabose’s concerns as you know, and whilst I have always been a staunch friend of Somaliland and an advocate of their right to self-determination, I hope we and the European Commission are doing our utmost to persuade President Rayaale to find ways of allowing the QPA and others to participate in the local elections. If the QPA have a sizeable following it would be unfortunate to put it mildly if those people are disenfranchised. If on the other hand they represent only a handful of electors, it would be no skin off the noses of the three establishment parties if they are allowed to put up candidates.

The Rt Hon the Lord Malloch-Brown KCMG,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
London SW1A 2AH

A Letter from The Chairman of QARAN PARTY.... DR GABOSE

Somaliland’s democracy is based on the multiparty system(see article 9/1 of the Somaliland Constitution) it is on this basis that the next election is scheduled to take place at the municipal level on July 7, 2008 and the presidential election on Aug. 31, 2008.

We (Qaran Political Association) believe that we stand on strong legal ground when we assert that we have every right to participate in the coming local election, and if successful at that level, we also are aiming to contest in the presidential one as well. Our argument is not based on fancy legal footwork, nor do we seek to establish a new paradigm, what we are asking for, and in effect demanding, is to have the same chance and to have access to the same process the current existing parties went through when they qualified to become the three (3) national parties.

Replenishing our democracy with regular elections where the people have a real chance to choose among new and old ideas can only improve the chances of this young democracy to take roots in Somaliland. Allowing a larger participatory base (instead of just three parties) is also conducive to maintaining stability and curbs inevitable resentments generated when a given group is excluded from the process.

Unfortunately the current administration has chosen a different path, this path is one in which the rule of law and due process have taken a distinctive lesser role and are trumped by totalitarian tendencies disguised as a democratic exercise. Illegal detentions and draconian judgments issued by discredited courts have been deployed against us in order to keep us from exercising our most basic fundamental citizen rights, and that is to vote, or to be voted into office.

For all practical purposes this government has rendered us non citizens when it stripped from us our right to vote or to be voted into office. To add insult to injury, this action goes squarely against the Somaliland Constitution which guarantees the right to vote as a fundamental right that cannot be amended by any branch of government (Legislative, Judiciary, and Executive), see articles 22/2, 127/d and 130/5.

In addition the Somaliland administration is adamantly opposed to opening up the registration process for new political association, and entertaining the notion that the difficulty lies in time constraints instead of a stubborn president who steadfastly refuses to open a single registration office where new political entities can submit their papers is a false choice, and is one the EU and US donor nations should be wary of.

The solution does not lie in compelling us (Qaran) to join the existing three parties, if we felt they represented our ideals and values we would have done so without the hardship of detentions and all subsequent insults and harassments. For us, this is a matter of principle, the democratic principle which should be defended and safeguarded from the impulse of reaching and expedient solution which could result in depriving us of our most fundamental right.

Opening up the process not just for Qaran, but to all qualified contesters is not just the right thing to do, but will be an essential component in holding a peaceful and inclusive election in the country. Allowing parties in power to develop strategic chock holds that deny the rest of the population the true choice of democracy will foster discontent and may lead us to the path of unintended consequences.

We continue to be impressed by the strong support and special attention given to our case by the international community and are thankful for the opportunity provided to us by the Undersecretary for African Affairs Dr. Frazer on her recent visit to Hargeisa when she included us into her busy agenda and gave us a chance to make our case.

The EU has been equally forceful in delivering a strong message to the Somaliland administration as the letter from the EU president Mr. Jose Barroso to Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck the president of ELDR indicates where he points out that:

“The EC Special Envoy for Somalia has directly engaged with the Somaliland authorities on the issue of political associations being permitted to participate freely and, more generally, on the democratization process which should lead to Presidential and local elections in 2008, to be supported, inter alia, by the European Commission.
The EU remains committed to maintaining concerted pressure on the Somaliland government to address the ban on the formation of political association”

We remain committed to continue our struggle and redouble our efforts to bring about the change we seek peacefully and with deliberate care, and we hope all who value the democratic process, honest debate and the exchange of ideas in the political market place will stand with us.

As the famous slave abolitionary figure Fredrick Douglas once said “Power concedes nothing without demand”. This statement was true then and remains so today.
We are engaged in a good fight and we aim to stand firm on the solid grounds of democracy, legality and liberty.

It is our fervent hope that you will stand with us.

Dr. Mohamed A.Gabose
Chairman of
Qaran Political Association