Press Release: Somaliland Concerned Citizens
Somalilandsun – The Somaliland Concerned Citizens –SSC demands the immediate removal from office of the Somaliland National Electoral Commission for betrayal of public trust and massive electoral fraud that led to unnecessary loss of lives
We the undersigned members of the public do hereby call on the international donors to immediately freeze any sort of funding earmarked for the proposed voter registration process in Somaliland until current members of Somaliland National Electoral Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the NEC”) are removed from office for betrayal of public trust and widespread election fraud, the like of which has never been seen in Somaliland’s nascent democratic history.
We particularly point out the following irrefutable facts in support of this:
1. That the Local Election held in the country on 28 November 2012, members of the NEC willfully and knowingly violated their Oaths of Office by deliberately and calculatingly allocating a pre-determined set of councilors to each political party contesting elections in the province of Maroodi-jeeh province [Hargeisa and outlying districts] irrespective of the total number of votes cast for each party. In so doing, not only the electoral commissioners have rendered the entire election process illegitimate but they have also knowingly ignored to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all duties incumbent upon them as commissioners according to the best of their abilities, agreeably to the rules and regulations of the constitution and laws of the land.
2. That the NEC unlawfully allocated a set of secretly pre-determined councilors to each party contesting the municipal elections in Maroodi-jeeh province based on the clan lineage of their respective leaders. For instance, the leader of WADANI was allocated four councilors from his own clansmen; the leader of HAKSOOR was allocated four councilors from his own clansmen, the leader of UMMADDA was allocated three councilors from his own clansmen, the leader of DALSAN was allocated two councilors from his own clansmen, the leader of RAYS was allocated one councilor from his own clansmen and finally the leader of the ruling party, KULMIYE, was allocated seven councilors from his own clansmen. It is important to point out that before the commencement of the municipal elections, each political party fielded candidates from across the Somaliland clan spectrum.
However, this was completely turned around by the NEC to the extent that the end result was wholly repugnant to justice and common sense. The multi-clan based parties were intentionally turned into one-clan based parties. This is clearly in direct contravention of article 28, Clause 3 of the Somaliland Constitution which states that “It is unlawful for a political party to be based on regionalism or clanism “. As far as Maroodi-jeeh province is concerned, the parties are unmistakably based along clan lines.
3. That the electoral commissioners willfully and knowingly ignored the stark warnings by Bashir Elmi Waberi, the NEC representative to Sayla, for the massive electoral fraud and irregularities committed in Zeila and Lugahaya districts, which eventually led to the unnecessary deaths of several people and subsequent skirmishes between the two brotherly clans that lived in region in perfect harmony side by side since time immemorial. The repercussions of the electoral fraud coupled with the unnecessary deaths and injuries reverberated across the borders of Somaliland into Ethiopia and Djibouti. This led to mass resignations of councilors hailing from Issa clan in the districts of Lugahaya and Zeila in protest against the government’s failure to address their grievances. Needless to say, the government has spent so much time and effort in trying to ameliorate the situation born out of the post election violence but has failed thus far to find any credible solution to this festering problem.
4. That certain members of the NEC willfully and knowingly dumped and burned completed ballot papers belonging to HAKSOOR party in the dry riverbed of Hargeisa from which they were later recovered by members of the public. The burnt out ballot papers and other intact ones were presented to the local press and subsequently shown on TVs as evidence of the brazen criminal acts committed by the NEC. Despite repeated calls, this government has turned a deaf ear to bring the culprits to book. This is the most telling evidence that these commissioners are corrupt to the bone.
5. That members of the NEC were responsible for intentionally deleting the vote results for HAKSOOR candidates from the system, claiming that a virus had infected the computer- a virus that, much to the horror and disbelief of the public, left the vote results for all other political parties contesting the election unaffected. More shockingly, when officials of HAKSOOR asked for a recount of their votes, the ballot boxes from their stronghold district in Hargeisa were nowhere to be found. Such blatant criminal acts on the part of the NEC led to the spontaneous rioting of the supporters of HAKSOOR in Ahmed Dagah District in Hargeisa where two school children and one adult tragically lost their lives and a dozen other children were injured, some of them seriously.
6. That two candidates who had already been declared winners by the NEC and whose names were published in the local papers were shamefully replaced with other candidates who had already conceded defeat. This was despite the fact that the list of winning candidates submitted by the NEC was approved by the district court of Hargeisa and already published in the papers. Yet again, this blatant manipulation of the electoral process led to running riots that raged in northern Hargeisa for two consecutive days in which innocent people were hurt.
7. That many boxes full of wads of blank ballot papers were found in many places from the remote rural areas of Erigavo to the sea shores of Zeila. Secretly filmed video clips showing men and women stuffing ballot papers in boxes under a shade of a tree were shown on TVs.
8. That councilor Ahmed Ali Dable, a HAKSOOR council candidate for Geed Deeble in northern Hargeisa who was voted by considerable number of his supporters including members of his own family was told, in no uncertain terms, by the NEC officials that he did not even win ONE SINGLE VOTE including his own vote let alone that of his wife and children and his supporters.
In light of these flagrant election violations and the subsequent deaths and injuries caused, we call upon the international donors to freeze any sort of funding earmarked for the voter registration process in Somaliland as long as these fraudsters are at helm of the NEC as failure to do so would only lead to more bloodshed.
In a similar manner, we call upon president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo to immediately remove these commissioners from office for the blatant criminal offences committed and honour his promise to set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the extent of electoral fraud and irregularities that occurred throughout the length and breadth of the country especially in Maroodi-jeeh province where the worst ever election fraud took place.
In conclusion, we would like to inform to all concerned that if the government fails to respect the legitimate public demands regarding the removal of these electoral commissioners from office then the people who have been affected by the electoral fraud would be left with no alternative option but to completely boycott the voter registration since no one has any trust whatsoever in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of this failed commission.
SCC
Somaliland Concerned Citizens SCC is a non-profit making organization designed to encourage greater community involvement and participation in the fight against corruption and to promote, empower and encourage citizens at the grassroots level to initiate actions on their own to fight corruption and expose injustices wherever it rears its ugly head in Somaliland.
Jamal Madar
somalilandconcernedcitizens@hotmail.com
SIGNATORIES
UNITED KINGDOM
1) Hasan Aw Harun Jama
2) Isse Geeljire
3) Cali Sandheere
4) Umar Nuur Guun
5) Mohamud Kijaandhe
6) Adan Ibrahim Ismail
7) Mohamed Ibrahim Adan
8) Abdikhadar Warsame (Afyare)
9) Faruq Abdilahi Doob Ilkoole
10) Harir Mohamed Jama
11) Ahmed Abdilahi Jawaan
12) Feisal Abdi Elmi
13) Ahmed Guleid Hirsi
14) Fuad Ibrahim Odowa
15) Abdinasir Hagagaar
16) Hasan Abdi Elmi
17) Ahmed Deeq Abdi Elmi Dihood
18) Abdilahi Dahir
19) Mohamed Cali Moge
20) Dayib Osman Quule
21) Anwar Ali Hiid
22) Hussein Aden Adde
23) Abdi Aden Adde
24) Mustafa Haji
25) Abdi Diyaar
26) Bashe Abdi Abdilahi
27) Mohamed Aden Adde
28) Najah Tuluh
29) Abdulqadir Abdilahi Hirsi
30) Abdi Hirsi Adar
31) Khaddar Aideed
32) Khaddar Miasmas
33) Mustafa Yusuf
34) Abdiqadir Ahmed Wali
35) Mohamed Ismail
36) Abdisalan Ali Akshan
37) Abdifatah Ali Warabe
38) Yusuf Mohamed Dage
39) Umar Cali Jabaan
40) Mohamed cabdiqaadir Foodyare
41) Axmed Jaamac Dheere
42) Khadar Axmed
43) Cawl cabdi Timir
44) Cusmaan Xaaji Cali
45) Mustafe Xaaji Mohamed
46) Mawliid Abiib Sodan
47) Xukun Cabdin Tuur
48) Mahdi Cabdi Tuur
49) Mohamed Jiriiban Xaaji Jirde
50) Yusuf Ibraahim
51) Xamse Xaaji Hasan
52) Cabdiraxmaan Mohamed
53) Yasir Maxamuud Ibraahim
54) Xuseen Cabdillaahi (wanaagsane)
55) Aadan Cali Xamari
56) Axmed Cabdillaahi
57) Mohamed Cabdi Keyd
58) Shukri Cabdi Xuseen
59) Siciid Baashe
60) Cabdiqani Axmed Mire
61) Dayib Aadan Xabashi
62) Mohamed Qawdhan
63) Muxumad Cali Aw Xuseen
64) Faysal Cali Aw Cabdi
65) Maxamuud Aw Aadan
66) Cali Ducaale Seed
67) Cabdirisaaq Cali Ducaale
68) Maxamuud Jibriil
69) Hasan Cali Ducaale
70) Cabdiraxmaan Abiib Cabdillaahi
71) Cabdikhadar Hasan Cabdillaahi
72) Guleed Cabdillaahi Axmed Rooble
73) Cali Cabdi Rooble
74) Idiris Xuseen Cabdillaahi
75) Jaamac Mohamed Cawaale
76) Cabdiqaadir Ciise Kaahin
77) Cabdi Dahir Aadan
78) Hasan Nadalo
79) Maxamuud Jaanyar
80) Mohamed Cabdi Haybe
81) Mohamed cabdi Gool
82) Ayaanle Mohamed
83) Ibraahim Cabdi Habreed
84) Khadar Khayre Carablow
85) Rashiid Hasan Xirsi
86) Aden Ibraahim
87) Khadar Gadaawe
88) Cabdicasiis Khadar Gadaawe
89) Axmed Mahdi
90) Xuseen Fiiraan
91) Daahir Axmed Jees
92) Ibraahim Daahir Colow
93) Xuseen Cali Rooble
94) Mohamed Ibraahim Muuse
95) Siciid Hugul
96) Nuur Cali Kooke
97) Mohamed Jaamac Dhalaax
98) Jaamac Axmed cagabaruur
99) Nuur Jaamac Mohamed
100) Cabdiraxmaan Jaamac Mohamed
101) Khadar Siciid
102) Cabdiraxmaan Xuseen Hasan Gubadle
103) Ibraahim Salaan
104) Axmed Sheekh Cabdi Wali
105) Mohamed cabdillaahi Cabdi
106) Mohamed Xaaji Cismaan
107) Ilyaas Cali Rooble
108) Liibaan Qaambiil
109) Xayd Adan Jaamac (Jaanyar)
110) Jibriil Jaamac Jaanyar
111) Khadar Naasir Ayjeex
112) Maxamuud Xaashi
113) Cabdiqani Diiriye Aw Maxamuud
114) Axmed Dhagoole
115) Cabdishakuur Mawliid
116) Abusite Jibriil
117) Abdisalaan Sheekh Daahir
118) Sahrmaarke Baadari
119) Mohammed Yusuf Madadse
120) Cabdirisaaq cali Qaafil
121) Mohamed Daahir Hagoogane
122) Siciid Cabdi Xirsi Madadaal
123) Daariq Xaaji Yuusuf
SAUDI ARABIA
1. Ahmed Ali Mahdi
2. Abdulfatah Axmed Buureed
3. Saeed Addaani
4. Ahmed Ibrahim
5. Abdi Buuni
6. Ibrahim Haji Dhagax
7. Ibrahim Ubaxle
8. Ibrahim Yassin
9. Dhamac Xaaji Faje
10. Adan Faarax Qaandhuus
11. Sacuud Mohamed Qardhab
12. Mohamed cabdi Caamir
13. Cabdilqaadir Cabdi Shaqale
14. Rashiid Karaani Yare
15. Harruun Ciise Miiradiin
16. Yaxye Axmed Aw Jaamac
17. Hasan Cali Waraabe
18. Good Hurre
19. Baashe cali Askar
20. Adan Cabdi Xaashi
21. Shiine Aw Nuux
22. Yusuf Cabdi Nuur
23. Cumar Xaaji Mohamed
24. Maxamuud maxamed yaryare
25. Fahad Maxamuud Gaaxnuug
26. Mohamed cabdillahi Nuur
27. Cabdi Faarax beedo
28. Faarax Barre Cabdulle
29. Hasan Mohamed naaleeye
30. Axmed Ayaanle Juujuule
31. Cabdilaahi Muuse Qoofal
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
1. Axmed Cabdi Suudi
2. Osman Abdi (Cismaan Buur)
3. Cadnaan Cabdi Hasan
4. Cismaan Cilmi (cismaan Gaab)
5. Cumar Cabdi Keyd
6. Cabdi Xuseen Food
7. Mohamed Cumar Xaaji
8. Faysal cabdi Hasan
9. Cali Abuu Shaxar
10. Siciid Kijaandhe
QATAR, DOHA
1. Cabdi Diiriye
2. Axmed Garbayare
3. Axmed Wajeer
4. Cabdiraxmaan Abiib
5. Mohamed Cali Dheere
6. Cabdi Ciise Liibaan
7. Faarx Aadan
8. Mohamed Hasan
9. Axmed Cali
10. Ismaaciil Xandule
11. Cabdiraxmaan Gardamoo
