International observers: Somaliland election free and fair

Hargeysa, 27, June 2010 (BIN) – More than one million Somalis in the breakaway Republic of Somaliland in northern Somalia voted on the weekend for a new president. The presidential polling finished later on Sunday and the Electoral Commission started to count the ballots of the voters. Electoral commission Chief Isse Yusuf Mohamud said results will be announced during this week.

The candidates are three including the former Somaliland president. International Observers said Monday the weekend presidential ballot in Somaliland was largely free and fair.

Michael Walls one of the international told the reporters in Hargeysa, the capital of Somaliland “The process to this point seems sufficient for the election to be seen free and fair expression of the popular well of the people of Somaliland”

Even with threats from Al-Shabab extremists to interrupt the process luckily came to nothing, but militia men supporting Somaliland neighbouring Puntland state of Somalia attacked polling stations at the border between the two regions killing four people including one of the election board and injured one. The trouble caused them to close 34 stations early in that area.

Northern parts of Somalia got independence 26th July 1960, while southern got 1st July 1960 and the joint together on first July Somaliland declared.

A former British colony, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but has not been recognised Somalia nor internationally despite its relative stability and the establishment of democratic institutions.