Somaliland: Facing the Challenges of Free and Fair Elections

In the wake of the political crisis of September 2009 and in the interregnum before new elections could be held, there was an opportunity to review the process of democratisation in Somaliland, to consider what had worked and what needed to be done to re-energise it. In November 2009 the Social Research and Development Institute (SORA DI) sponsored a conference that brought key stakeholders together to debate the issues. A number of papers were commissioned for the conference and formed the basis of the discussions. Those papers have been reworked and edited and brought together for this publication.

The intention had been to produce this publication before the presidential election, in order to assist the NEC and other stakeholders in the difficult task of ensuring the election would be free and fair and above all peaceful. The pessimistic tone of some of the articles reflect some of the anxieties that existed at the time they were written, following a series of postponed elections, and controversies over the NEC and the constitutionality of the extensions of the presidential and House of Elders terms of offi ce. Fortunately, the election took place peacefully and has been acclaimed to be relatively free and fair.

 

Product details
Date of Publication
2009
Number of Pages
65
Licence
Language of publication
English