The End of Secessionism in Somalia. Part III – Somaliland Elections Under Chaotic Circumstances

In an earlier article ("The End of Secessionism in Somalia. Part I–Journalist Nur Ahmed Gagab Injured by Riyaale’s Guards" - http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/94292), I focused on the terrorist acts performed by the guards of Somaliland’s dictator Riyaale against a journalist. In a second article (The End of Secessionism in Somalia. Part II–Somalia’s Peace to Trigger the End of Evil "Ethiopia" - http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/94311), I republished two editorials elaborated by Somali commentators about the forthcoming elections in Northern Somalia. In fact, Abdirisak Ismail Esse in his "Who Might Win Somaliland’s Presidential Election?" and Ibrahim Mead with his "The urgency of now!", although supporting different candidates of the opposition, agree that there is only one problem in Somalia: Abyssinia.

The tyrannical and dictatorial realm of fake "Ethiopia", ruled by the racist elites of the Amhara and Tigray Monophysitic Abyssinians, is the only reason for both, the subjugation of numerous nations (Oromos, Afars, Ogadenis, Sidamas, Kambatas, Shekachos, Kaffas, Hadiyas, Gedeos, Anuak, Nuer, Agaw, Shinasha, Berta, and Gumuz) and the Civil War in Somalia.

In the present article, I republish a report about the sudden death of Mr. Hassan Mohamed Loshade (New Voter-registration Head Dies Suddenly in Somaliland from Garow Online), and another report composed by A. Haragwaafi (Somaliland Clan Conference Worries Government) concerning the conference that opened Wednesday in the city of Burao, Northern Somalia, whereby gathered more than 200 delegates, including traditional elders, intellectuals, business leaders and lawmakers belonging to the Isaaq sub-clans of Habar Jeclo and Habar Yonis. Riyaale’s tyrannical administration seems to have expressed great concern about the event that is expected to put a tombstone on his regime of shame, oppression and high treason.

New Voter-registration Head Dies Suddenly in Somaliland
http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_New_voter-registration_head_dies_suddenly_in_Somaliland.shtml
14 Mar 14, 2009 - 1:32:43 PM

Hargeisa, Somalia Mar 14 (Garowe Online) - A newly appointed chairman overseeing the voter-registration process in Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland died suddenly on Friday, Radio Garowe reports.

Mr. Hassan Mohamed Loshade was rushed to the general hospital in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, after reporting heart pains Friday afternoon.

Doctors said he later died at the hospital due to heart-related complications.
The late Mr. Loshade, who hails from Sanaag region, was a member of the Somaliland election commission and recently took over as the head of the commission's voter-registration sub-committee.

His predecessor, Mr. Ismail Nur Muse, was sacked last week following controversy that erupted after registered voter data was released. (Read: Dispute deepens over Somaliland voter-registration process)

Emerging reports indicate that Mr. Loshade's surviving relatives have demanded an autopsy report. Hours prior to his death, Loshade attended a luncheon in Hargeisa to welcome him as chairman of the voter-registration sub-committee, local sources reported.
It is not clear what impact his death might have on the upcoming presidential election in Somaliland.

But the government and the main opposition party, Kulmiye, are increasingly at conflict after Kulmiye refused to endorse the Somaliland election commission's unilateral decision to delay the election from March 29 to May 31.

Donor countries have spent millions of dollars financing the voter-registration process, which is a crucial step in Somaliland's effort to hold democratic elections.

The voter-registration process, however, has been tainted by disputes within the election commission and registration data which has angered some local clans.

Somaliland Clan Conference Worries Government
By A. Haragwaafi

http://gargaar.blogspot.com/2009/03/somaliland-clan-conference-worries.html

Hargeisa, Somalia Mar 14. The government of Somaliland is increasingly worried about a clan conference that opened Wednesday in the city of Burao.

The conference was attended by more than 200 delegates, including traditional elders, intellectuals, business leaders and lawmakers belonging to the Isaaq sub-clans of Habar Jeclo and Habar Yonis. The government tried with every possible means to stop this conference, including bribing tribal leaders, propaganda and threats. More than 6 Ministers that hail from the region spent sleepless nights in Buroa. One tactic that worked in Hargeysa failed to materialize. It was a threat of closure of any hotel that entertains this kind of conference. Amazingly it was held successfully in the greatest hotel in the city, Palazza Hotel.

On Friday, the Burao clan conference concluded successfully and the delegates issued a signed declaration, with a management team of 18 men ( Nine from each clan), to oversee the execution of the points agreed. A key clause in the signed declaration stated: "The presidential election must be held in the country [Somaliland] on time, which is March 29."

The following clause indicated that delaying the election is "intended to confuse the public," while another clause demanded that the "lawmaking bodies [parliament] must reach a decision about the leadership in the country" following the April 6 deadline, when incumbent President Dahir Riyale's extended term in office expires.

Mr. Awil Ali Du'ale, Somaliland's finance minister, told local media in the regional capital Hargeisa that the clan conference is Burao "will change nothing." That is a far cry from the huge efforts exercised by the government to ban it.

"It bothers me a lot when I hear that clans are meeting, especially when the election is so close, it is the nation backtracking. It is better that political parties meet [instead]," Finance Minister Awil said.

He called on the public to uphold the peace, while urging the opposition to declare that they will peacefully accept election results.

Somaliland's opposition parties Kulmiye and UCID vowed not to recognize Riyale's government after April 6, when his extended term in office expires. The same is expressed by the Chairman of the Powerful Gurti. The Somaliland election commission recently delayed the presidential election from March 29 to May 31, forcing opposition parties to demand the establishment of a caretaker government.

The political crisis in Somaliland continues to deepen, especially after both Kulmiye and UCID's demand that the two houses of parliament appoint a caretaker government gained support from major clan-groups in the region. It is known that the most powerful members of both houses openly expressed their approval of this request.

Based in Hargeysa, Northern Somalia, A. Haragwaafi can be contacted here: haragwaafi4@yahoo.co.uk

Note
Picture: A picture with the value of a thousand words. "Women are especially vulnerable to militia attacks in times of war" - Photo: Derk Segaar/IRIN
From: http://horntimes.com/emptymain9.html