Somalilandsun – The Somaliland national election commission-NEC is confident of a fair, transparent and timely presidential election as slated this November
This was revealed by the chairman of NEC, Commissioner Abdikadir Iman Warsame during a function at the offices of the Accountant General in Hargeisa where the government handed the electoral body a cheque of $2m.
According to the finance minister Zamzam Abdi Aden who officiated the handover, the $2m half of the Somaliland government’s share of contribution towards the presidential elections.
The finance minister was accompanied by her deputy minister , minister of planning Mohamed Ibrahim Aden and flanked by host accountant General while NEC was fully represented y all its seven commissioners
“As promised to NEC that the polls funds contribution from the central coffee shall be effected in July, I hereby handover a cheque of $2m to NEC” said the finance minister while revealing that the balance of $2m shall be made available in August.
Stating that the administration of president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo was committed to ensuring that the Somaliland presidential elections are held as slated the finance minister who stressed on the fact the government is currently engaged in drought relief activities said “despite these massive unplanned of expenditures the head of state is categoric that NEC be availed relevant funds”
In conclusion minister Zamzam Abdi Aden revealed that in pursuit of fulfilling the president’s commitment to timely elections the central coffers are always open to NEC in case unexpected expenses relevant to the polls occur.
For the planning minister Mohamed Ibrahim Aden the funds handover to NEC came as a huge relief following numerous queries for Somaliland’s democratization international partners.
“Now I can confidently inform our international partners that the government is on track having availed NEC half of its allotted share of presidential elections budget” said the planning minister as he revealed that in the recent past the IC has raised with him issue of the untenability of the polls in November allegedly because the government is yet to hand over its share of allotted funds.
Stressing that the funds handover especially in these difficulty times financial for the country engulfed with after effects of severe drought was proof of the president’s commitment to timely elections, the planning minister said the international community partnering the country’s democratization process should now be satisfied that mechanism in place are geared towards a November 2017 presidential election.
Upon thanking the administration for availing NEC the polls funds Commissioner Abdikadir Iman Warsame who informed that voter cards issuance shall commence in Marodi-jeeh region later in the month said all systems were Go and no hitches a foreseen.
“We have successfully completed issuing the cards in Awdal and Sahil regions as well as the coastal areas of Sanaag region as planned thence initiate similarly in Marodi-jeeh later in the month” said Commissioner Abdiqadir who said lessons learnt in the completed exercise indicate a hitches free in other parts of the country.
In concussion the NEC chairperson who stressed on the significance of the contribution from the central coffers as pertained its planning for the forthcoming polls went on to announce that the much anticipated Somaliland presidential elections shall be held on the 13th November 2917.
