Idhanka, 15 September 2009–A group of notable Somaliland friends and supporters have expressed their dismay at the postponement of presidential elections by the election commission without setting a firm replacement date, according to a letter they sent Monday 14 September to the leaders of the Somaliland’s political parties. Awdalpress obtained a copy.

“As firm friends and supporters of Somaliland and its path to democracy, we were dismayed

to hear of the decision by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to postpone the

presidential elections from 27 September without a firm replacement date,” the Group said in the letter they separately addressed to President Dahir Rayale and the leaders of the other two parties, Faisal Ali Waraabe of UCID party and Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo of Kulmiye.

“We very much hope that a speedy resolution of the crisis facing Somaliland can occur

through the traditional and much admired methods of dialogue and consensus. That requires

leadership by you and by the leaders of the other two parties.

“We very much hope that a speedy resolution of the crisis facing Somaliland can occur

through the traditional and much admired methods of dialogue and consensus. That requires

leadership by you and by the leaders of the other two parties.

“Many of us are hoping to be international election observers for the elections when they do

take place, and hope that a date can be set that is agreeable to all parties and to civil society, thereby enabling us to participate in your electoral process and to support your progress towards democracy.

“We fear that failure to hold an election under terms that are accepted by all three parties and that are broadly accepted by those participating more generally in the Somaliland political environment, as well as the Somaliland populace, would at a stroke destroy the gains so painstakingly made over the last 18 years.

“We believe that recent unrest and the deaths of a number of demonstrators provide vivid

demonstration of the seriousness of the current situation and the urgency with which action is required to resolve this impasse. Although much has already been asked of the patience of all Somalilanders, it would be desperately sad if violent incidents were now allowed to mar

Somaliland’s unique reputation for democratic stability which so sharply differentiates it from

Somalia.”

The signatories of the letter included Mohamed Ali, Georgina Barrett-Haigh, Mark Bradbury, Dr. Luca Ciabarri, Daniel De Simone, Richard Dowden, Dr. Laura Hammond,

Conrad Heine, Dr. Jeffrey I. Herbst, Georg-Sebastian Holzer, Sarah Howard, Prof. Iqbal D. Jhazbhay, Hon. Jim Karygiannis MP, Dr. Steve Kibble, Howard Knight, Prof Ioan M. Lewis, Dr. Terrence Lyons, Fiona Mangan, Prof Ken Menkhaus, Rt. Hon. Alun Michael MP, Lic. Maria Cecilia Milesi, Senator Marco Perduca, Dr. Peter Reddy, Patrick Reilly

Peter Schuckink Kool, Claudia Simoes, Walter Stewart, Medhane Tadesse, Michael Walls, Louise Wiuff Moe, Ahmed Yussuf.