Somaliland is on the brink of a pivotal moment with the elections approaching, and a press release from the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlines the preparations underway for these electoral events.
According to the statement submitted to APA, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has completed the verification of electoral lists and the validation of candidates. Commissioners have been deployed across the regions to oversee polling stations, and international observers are in the process of being accredited.
The press release emphasizes that a third of the national budget has been allocated to secure the electoral process. Regarding the situation in Lasanod, a town in the Sool region experiencing territorial tensions with Puntland, an autonomous region of Somalia, the ministry advocates for “a policy of peaceful dialogue” that “will continue after the elections.”
Economically, the ministry highlights the development of the Berbera corridor as a means to enhance regional economic integration, benefiting landlocked countries. Berbera, a coastal city along the Red Sea in northwest Somaliland, hosts the nation’s main seaport, playing a vital role in trade. The Berbera corridor aims to connect the port city to landlocked nations in East Africa, such as Ethiopia, thereby strengthening economic exchanges in the region.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the Qorilugud region, located in the Buuhoodle area of eastern Somaliland, which borders Puntland and Ethiopia and often faces conflicts related to tribal and territorial disputes. The statement reiterated, “We do not want war, but Somaliland has the duty to protect its citizens and its territory.”
The document concludes with an appeal to the international community, stating that “international solidarity is essential to uphold the principles of peace, democracy, and sovereignty,” and urging regional actors to refrain from interfering in the electoral process.
Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland and its administrative and economic center, is fully prepared to host these elections, which are viewed as a crucial step in affirming Somaliland’s stability and sovereignty in the Horn of Africa.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA