By Guled Abdi

Being a Somalilander is about fighting for the recognition of Somaliland and trying to make invest in Somaliland, to help with infrastructure like roads, bridges, and highways, health care, education and law enforcement by working together with the police, military and government officials to help prevent crime or tragedies.

No matter where you are and how long have been away from the mother land and it’s hard to lose the identity of your native land and it’s hard to get adapted in a foreign land when you were evicted of the country because of the civil war in Somaliland in the 1980’s or when most of our people were forced to leave the country and they were exiled overseas or neighboring countries.

This was an historic week for the Somalilanders in the city of Shiefield the united Kingdom, Europe and Somalilanders all over the globe. Somalilanders in the UK and Europe second to the Landers back home in Somaliland are the most patriotic landers after them and in the diaspora they are the most active and it’s understandable that Somalilanders in the Middle East can’t fight Somaliland recognition because they are not citizens there and there is no free speech in those countries.

Somalilanders in North America both the United States and Canada so called Landers are nothing but traitors, cowards who don’t support Somaliland recognition. They only fight with each other and they don’t care about Somaliland, they only care about politics and business. Somalilanders in North America from Seattle to Toronto, From Calgary to Atlanta, From Boston to Minneapolis, From Columbus to Ottawa, From Edmonton to California  From New York to Chicago From DC to Connecticut.

Put your difference aside and work on helping Somaliland for fighting it’s cause and by working together and may 18th partying is not the time together and try to get together during the whole year and try to talk about getting Somaliland recognized by making online petition inside North America for the American and Canadian Somalilander so that they can petition for Somaliland recognition so that it can I go through, the municipalities, state, provincial, Federal governments and try to tell your MPS and congressman, alderman or city councilor about Somaliland’s case and now we are the laughing stock of the Somaliland diaspora community and that I was in Hargeisa last summer and a bunch locals told me that your fellow Somaliland North American aren’t real Somalilanders.Talk about the development and improvement of Somaliland.

Somaliland community of North America if you love Somaliland take initiatives of Somaliland or maybe you guys don’t want Somaliland to get recognized and for your silence you guys are trying to push with Somalia, and I remember the time during the war in Somaliland in the 80’s and the early 90’s in North America most of the landers were with  Siad Barre and they were upset about Somaliland splitting up from Somalia in 1991 and that was a true story and I was present for it.  Somaliland North America what’s going to be Somaliland getting recognition and Somaliland will never be a part of the greater Somalia again.  Either you guys are with or against Somaliland.

Date: 08nd April 2014

The Somaliland Civil Society/ NSA endorsed the agreements reached by the Somaliland election stakeholders on the expected voter registration (2013). As a key stakeholder in the Somaliland Democratization process, the Civil Society urges the Government, the Political Parties, NEC, the International Community to cooperate for the common good of the people of Somaliland and the Somaliland Civil Society appreciates the continues generous support of the International Community on Somaliland elections and democratization process in general.

Hargeisa- On February 27, 28- 2014 the SONSAF Democratization Thematic Working Group has facilitated two days Round-table discussions with key stakeholders of the Somaliland Non State Actors to analyze and discuss the issue of voter registration in support of the unwavering consensus of the Somaliland election stakeholders to establish a work-plan for the process of holding a voter registration on time for the 2014 election.

The discussions focused on participants’ experience on 2008 voter registration, assessed the misconducts and the lessons that can be drawn from the experience of how Somaliland has managed its first ever voter registration endorsed the agreements reached by the Somaliland election stakeholders on voter registration issues and inform them of the importance of civil society role in the voter registration process.

The participants took stock of the importance of a credible voter registration for Somaliland’s budding democracy and the quest for free and fair elections on 2015 and beyond and largely agreed that though some progress have been made towards timely, free and fair elections, there are still outstanding issues mainly, gaps in necessary legal reform provisions, all of which can potentially hamper the prospect of timely, free and fair elections in Somaliland in 2015.

All the participants shared a passion for finding the right framework and level playing field for all political actors for free and fair elections in order to sustain Somaliland’s vision for a peaceful, justice and democratic society.

The participants identified litany of problems which marred the results of 2008 voter registrations as mentioned in subsequent reports by Creative Associates, by Electoral Reform International Services and others, which included:

• Technical issues including administrative and system errors

• The direct fraud acts such as the registration of minors too young to be eligible to vote, deliberate multiple registrations with false names and other details, mobilization of communities by the politicians, under age voting and double voting have come persist ingredient in this cycle.

• Logistics and preparation including inadequate staff training on technology use as well as other operating skills, distribution of registration units and dispatch of registration kits.

• Very inadequate voter education awareness across the country

• Gaps in Legal provisions as well as Lack of Enforcement of laws

• Generally the time allocated for the whole exercise was very limited.

As such the participants proposed the following advice for the Government, Political parties, National Election Commission, Ministry of Interior, Intentional Community and Non state Actors of Somaliland:

 Stakeholders need to understand the Importance of Voter Registration as a pillar for Somaliland’s young democracy, as a way to discourage multiple voting, a means to increase our elections turnout as well as a tool for election preparation.

 Strong civil society/NSA monitoring and observation on voter registration process is extremely inevitable at levels of planning, implementation and validating the final lists of the voters.

 For a successful and credible voter registration to take place, the process of conduct voter registration needs to be transparent, open and should allow the public and the civil society to play a role.

 Misconducts of the 2008/2009 should not be repeated and the decision makers need to immediately address those misconducts and inform the wider public of the consequences of repeating them again.

 The participants urge the Somaliland government to share information on the progress of the Voter registration process and overall its commitment to holding the elections on time with the public in order to reduce speculations, misinformation and improve transparency.

 The Somaliland opposition parties should also refrain from anything that can create tensions and disturb the smooth transition towards a credible voter registration and free and fair elections in 2015.

 The members of the civil society also spoke about the importance of awarding the tender and the bidding process, which is deemed not effective and well-though out in

the previous exercise. Therefore, there is need to draw lessons from the problems we faced during the previous voter registration, hence a competitive and transparent bid process can play a huge role in ensuring a credible voter registration.

 NEC shouldn’t take the existing polling stations for granted as happened in the last election, and needs to conduct a proper remapping on the available polling centers in order to avoid any delays and inconsistent.

 The Somaliland civil society is recommending the election stakeholders to support harmonizing the electoral laws in order to prevent any confusion and shortcomings

 Somaliland civil society/ NSA is highly recommending to the parliament of Somaliland adopting a comprehensive legal system that is allowing women and minority quota.

 Amble time needs to be given to the voter registration preparation, especially the personnel selection procedures and the training of operation team as well as a proper planning for the voting/polling centers.

 For a successful voter registration, the civil society urges NEC, the government and the International community to support conducting a comprehensive awareness and civic education programs in order to the wider population.

Furthermore, as a key election stakeholders, the Somaliland civil society played a prominent role in past elections and continues to liaise with all other stakeholders to play a meaningful role in the quest for free and fair elections and a level playing field for all actors.

The civil society fully supports the options selected by the stakeholders– parallel processes of registration each led by its mandated institution – Voter Registration for NEC and Civil Registration for MOI.

In the effort of supporting the process, the Somaliland civil society will continue to cooperate with all other stakeholders in order to safeguard the accountability and transparency of Voter registration process. It will participate in building public confidence for the voter registration and voter education exercises to ensure a credible voter registration. It will continue to creating an enabling environment for a credible voter registration through public dialogue, studies and researches.

Somaliland Non State Actors Forum (SONSAF)

The Chairperson

Mustafe Sacad Dhibil

Somaliland Non State Actors Forum

Location: Jigjga-yar, Badda As, Behind WHO Office

Tel: +252-(0)-63-570536, +252-(0)-63-4414335

Website:www.sonsaf.org_______________

7^th April 2014                                                                                                             4/2014

Press release

Today, 7^th April 2014 about 16:00 local time, Somaliland Police produced a court warrant ordering the immediate shut down  of the headquarters of the independent Haatuf newspaper and sister English paper, Somaliland Times. Human Rights Center strongly condemns the closure which is in violation of the freedom of the press guaranteed by the constitution of Somaliland.

On 13^th December 2013, in the same manner the Police closed Hubaal newspaper which is so far on suspension without any suit initiated against it.

The suspension of the papers critical to the government is serious human rights problem that concerns Human Rights Center. The independent press is the backbone of democracy.

As stated in article 32 of the constitution, all the acts that suppress the media are prohibited. Article 28 of the constitution obliges the parties to have equal opportunity before the judiciary.

The judiciary shall be independent from the executive branch. The Center is very concerned the judicial acts which seem to be aimed at silencing the press.

Haatuf has recently published stories related to oil explorations and how it is managed.

The acts against Haatuf and Hubaal are in violation of the freedom of the press and the rule of law.

 Human Rights Center requests the government of Somaliland:

To immediately lift the suspension of Haatuf, Somaliland Times and Hubaal newspapers and to allow the papers to continue their publications,

To halt the acts that harm the independent press,

The judiciary to provide equal opportunities of hearing the parties before issuing decisions.

MS Mulaho Mohamed Ali

The spokesperson of Human Rights Center

Hargeisa Somaliland

by Guled Guled

What is being a Somalilander is all about and what are the conditions, I will explain all this in my article.  Somalilanders all over the world are pleased and happy that city of Sheifeld gave Somaliland recognition, and more cities and countries will follow suit. 

Being a Somalilander is about arguing for the right of recognition of the land, is about arguing about the developments of the country, is about taking initiatives of Somaliland, not only celebrating may 18th to keep the sprite of Somaliland all year long.

Being a Somalilander is being very patriotic and taking initiatives for the cause of Somaliland getting recognition, developments of the country, investment opportunities in the country, job creation for the unemployed youths and  not risk their lives at sea.

Education development and to help to have libraries for our children in Somaliland, and to create hope for the youth that after University that can get a job or open their own business instead of spending thousands of dollars leaving the country to put their lives in jeopardy, and instead spending that much money they can open business with that money with the help of their families.

Open up more stadiums or arenas for the youth so that they won’t end up in gang activates. Health Care, and to value the religion of Islam.  Keeping on eye on the country from the enemies of Somaliland and to vigilante if they see anything specious and that working with the police, army, government official is where Somaliland is today.

The message is for  Somalilanders all over the world inside or outside Somaliland.

Somalilanders inside Somaliland are very active, patriotic, and that goes for the rest of the landers in Africa. The Somalilanders in the Middle East and Asia are patriotic and very active of Somaliland. The Somalilanders in Australia and New Zealand are patriotic and active of Somaliland.

Next to the Somalilanders inside Somaliland and the most patriotic and active people in the diaspora who always fights for Somaliland recognition and the development in Somaliland, are the Somalilanders in the UK and Europe. Not only they have outstanding may 18th parties, they also meet on occasions regarding Somaliland like recognition, development, and have dinner parties for Somaliland during the year outside of May 18th.

 They are tight community in Europe and when they are inside Somaliland and they made their own neighborhood in Hargeisa and they organize events as well. The Somaliland Community in North America I am really disappointed in them and they are not patriots of Somaliland and they are not active as well and they only time they get together for an event for Somaliland is the May 18th parties singing, dancing and not thinking about the value of Somaliland, they are not active when they are in Somaliland both the Canadian and American Somalilanders they have some kind of hatred towards the country.

When it’s the case of recognition they are not do anything and also development in the country like education, health, Roads, and economy. Somalilander here in North America have to stop having their tribal meetings, and put their differences aside to help Somaliland get recognition and help the developments of our nations, and they are the only diaspora community who don’t help with road construction throughout the nation and especially the Erigavo Highway and which are they are against any developments of the country or the recognition of Somaliland.

Both Canada and the US are two friendly nations and a very diverse nations, and they are the most powerful countries in the world, and having the case of Somaliland recognition sent to them would be a good idea if we the landers in North America work together for Somaliland