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NEWS
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The United States To Provide Additional Funds for
Somaliland Elections
March 16, 2008
The United States Under-Secretary for African Affairs, Dr. Jendayi Frazer spoke
about her recent African tour to the Senate Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on
Africa on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008.
The Under-Secretary speaking about her visit to Somaliland said; "I also had an
opportunity to visit the city of Hargeisa in the self-declared Republic of
Somaliland. Somaliland has achieved a commendable level of stability, largely
without external support or assistance, which the international community must
help to sustain regardless of the question of formal recognition. My visit in
February, 2008, provided a chance to witness Somaliland's progress in terms of
economic development, but also to hear about the challenges that Somaliland
faces in its democratic process.
During my visit, I met with members of the Somaliland administration, as well as
representatives from Somaliland's three political parties to discuss the
municipal and presidential elections expected to take place in July and August
of this year.
The United States has provided one million dollars through the International
Republican Institute (IRI) to support training for members of Parliament elected
in Somaliland's September 2005 parliamentary elections, as well as
capacity-building for Somaliland's three political parties. We also plan to
contribute an additional one million dollars in support of the upcoming
municipal and presidential elections.
Despite some recent delays in beginning a voter registration process, we are
hopeful that the recent decision by President Dahir Rayale Kahin to authorize
the voter registration process proposed by the National Electoral Commission
will enable the elections to take place on schedule.
At the same time, Somaliland's democracy remains fragile and it is important to
maintain the success of the past.
We will continue to urge Somaliland's political parties to demonstrate the same
level of political will that ensured the previous presidential elections in 2003
were credible and transparent, and to work together to ensure a peaceful result
regardless of which candidate wins the election.
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Source: The Republican
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