Traditional Elders Call On Government Not To Disrupt The Election
Editorial - Rayale wages war against the Commission through his minsters
The distribution of voter registration cards enters its final phase as the process receives overwhelming public support. The opposition parties praised this crucial step of Somaliland’s democratization. The international community is behind it and the Diaspora Somalilanders congratulated the Electoral Commission for their remarkable achievements particularly their neutrality. But even before the the distribution of the voter cards begun, only one party attacked the credibility of the process in its entirety. The governing party UDUB declared its position long before any failure occurred in replacing the voter registration cards. Putting the wagon before the horse, they rejected the whole process before the commission announced the voter card distribution process.
They did not even consider the significance it has for the nation having legitimate elections in this infant nation. The existence of this card itself is a recognition we believe is long over due. At the same time, President Rayale repeatedly declared his desire that this nation should have an election they deserve but it seems that his ministers and governors are adopting a totally different policy in direct conflict with the president’s views. The president signed the exact date of the election on June 26th, a historic day of this country. The president accepted internationally brokered six point deal including the outcome of the server, but the question on whose behalf are these heads are working for? There is no shred of doubt they are representing and expressing the views of the president which accepted the commissions decisions at face value. The ministers of agriculture, justice, interior, the police chief, governors of Hargeisa and Burao, UDUB party official particularly the spokesman, and UDUB campaign manager all attacked the process of card distribution, the integrity of the Electoral Commission. Contrary to the president’s public view, these officials launched a concerted character assignation against the Commission.
Why is Rayale saying something and his ministers doing the exact opposite. The contradiction does not any sense of course and may confuse those who do not follow Somaliland politics. It only takes few minutes to look back in history of Rayale government’s actions. The true opinion of the President and his actions can be gauged, not from what he says publicly but from the actions of his ministers. That is to say Rayale’s government is not ready for an election regardless of whether it can or cannot win. The administration simply wants to continue in the unconstitutional term-extension path legitimized by the unelected upper house of the parliament (Guurti).
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