International observation mission to Somaliland’s 2017 presidential election
returns to launch final report; looks forward to parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2019 25 July 2018 Following the London unveiling in March, the international election observation mission (IEOM) will revisit its final report, ‘The Limits of Consensus?’, in Somaliland
with an event at Ambassador Hotel, Hargeisa on Thursday 26th July at 10am.
Eight months on from polling day, the event provides an opportunity to reflect on the
poll and aftermath, and on implications for the next step in Somaliland’s political
journey—the long-delayed parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 2019.
The poll on 13 November 2017 assembled 60 observers from 27 countries at the
invitation of Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission. The IEOM observed 355
polling stations (22% of the total), across all six regions of Somaliland and 17 of the
21 districts. That number and coverage compares positively with similar missions in other countries.
The mission reported a largely peaceful and well-organised polling day in areas
observed, albeit with some irregularities, though not of sufficient scale to have
impacted the final result. However, the post-poll landscape was marked by delays in counting votes and the premature and illegal release of informal results by each of the largest two parties.
This encouraged an atmosphere of rumour and contention, leading to violence and several deaths before results were formally declared in late November and the new president was inaugurated in December.
Says Dr Michael Walls, chief observer of the IEOM:
“This presidential election was marked by some significant firsts, including the first
use of Somaliland’s innovative biometric voter register and the first participation in a
Somaliland election of some in the easternmost regions.
In a tense situation, Somaliland once again called on its admirable tradition of conflict resolution to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. But such a tradition cannot be relied upon indefinitely.
Thus, we urge Somaliland’s stakeholders to take on board the long list of recommendations in our final report. We hope Somaliland’s democratic journey will
continue peacefully, and that we will once again be part of a successful observation
mission to a successful poll in 2019 as scheduled.”
The IEOM closes “The Limits of Consensus?” with a number of recommendations,including: strengthening legal bodies supervising campaigns and elections(especially formal dispute procedures); timely updating of the voter register;improvements to civic education and training for polling staff, political parties and voters; better transparency around the electoral process; that political parties use formal dispute resolution structures, improve female representation and refrain from inflammatory campaigning; legislation to ensure freedom of expression; more state funding for elections; and campaign spending limits for political parties.
Notes to Editors
1. The election, Somaliland’s third presidential poll and sixth election overall, saw
Muse Bihi Abdi of the Kulmiye party defeat rival candidates from the Waddani and
UCID parties. With 55% of the vote, Muse succeeded the retiring incumbent,
Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud ‘Silanyo’, also of Kulmiye.
2. The IEOM, which was funded by the British government, was led by the
Development Planning Unit at University College London, and Somaliland Focus
(UK), and project managed by UCL Consultants.
3. For media information, please contact Conrad Heine (IEOM Media Coordinator)
at ieosomalilandmedia@gmail.com. The mission and report are online at
www.somalilandfocus.org.uk, @SomalilandFocus and facebook.com/EOMSomaliland2017.
4. Somaliland declared unilateral independence from Somalia in 1991 following
