Somaliland: Written Statement on Behalf of the International Community regarding Elections

British Office

Hargeisa

01 May 2015

SUBJECT: SOMALILAND PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

1. The International Community welcomes Somaliland’s National Election Commission’s announcement of a timeline for the voter registration process and aJune 1, 2016 date for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.We commend the National Election Commission for abiding by its constitutional mandate to submit an electoral timeline to the President based strictly on a technical process.

2. The International Community have been consistently reassured to hear the importance that all parties place on following the electoral timeline proposed by the National Election Commission.In a recent visit to Hargeisa, members of the International Community met with a cross-section of key stakeholders (the President, all three Political Parties, and the Guurti) to underline the need to reach the political consensus necessary to facilitate the completion of the voter registration process and to ensure elections take place in June, 2016. Any further delays, not based on technical reasons, will harm public and international confidence in Somaliland’s democratization process.

3. The International Community stands ready to support Somaliland’s democratization process.

ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND DEMOCRATISATION STEERING

COMMITTEE