Somaliland: Preliminary Elections Are In; Some Surprises, Some Needed Improvements
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Monday June 07, 2021 - 10:53:38 in Articles by Hadhwanaag News
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Ali Mohamed Abokot
The
Somaliland National Election Commission (NEC) has released the
preliminary results for the 2021 parliamentary and local council which
took place on Monday, May 31st, 2021. All these results are subject to
certification by the Somaliland Constitutional Court.
1. The turnout was 65%. The highest ever. Of the one million plus registered voters, more 650,000 cast their ballots.
2. The 82 House of Representative seats and 220 local council seats were on the ballot.
3.
The opposition parties have, combined, won the majority of these local
council seats. Even though, the ruling party, Kulmiye won the most, 83,
the opposition parties, Waddani & UCID's combined seats, 137, will
give them control of local councils, if they decide to form a coalition.
4.
This is also the case in the House of Representatives, which
preliminary results indicate will be a hung parliament. Kulmiye and
Waddani attained 30 and 31 seats, respectively, whilst UCID trailed with
21. Already, the opposition parties have announced a coalition in
parliament.
5. Two Waddani
candidates, one for the House of Representatives, Barkhad Batun Hersi,
and the other, Abdikarim Ahmed Moge, for the Hargeysa local council,
garnered over 20,000 votes each. The most votes, ever, in Somaliland
parliamentary and local council election.
6. The two largest cities in the country, Hargeysa and Burco, get new Mayors.
7.
Three, 3, women candidates for local councils were elected. All 3
councillors are from districts in the extreme West and Eastern regions
of the country.
8. This is the first Somaliland election in which the opposition parties have not lodged complaints of interference against the ruling administration, against the NEC, Police or the Media.
On the other hand,
1.
All the 10 women candidates for the House of Representatives were
unsuccessful in their quest for representation in the parliament.
2. Of the 220 council seats available, only 3, were won by women.
All
in all, the elections were declared free, fair and credible by the
international monitors from many countries across the globe. A victory
for all Somalilanders.
However,
it is quit clear, whilst democracy flourishes in Somaliland, more needs
to be done to have universal representation of the society as a whole.
Ali Mohamed Abokot
AFEEF:
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