Tensions in the context of Somaliland Vote

The escalation of tensions ahead of a presidential election in the self-declaredrepublic Somaliland are raising fears that a long politicalcrisis May give al-Qaida-linked Somali militant group, al-Shabab, the possibility of spread its extremist ideology.

Theassociate professor of religious studies and Arabic at the University of South Africa, Iqbal Jhazbhay, said political wrangling between the Government and opposition parties in Somaliland toderail threat greatly delayed the elections, scheduled for September 27.

Jhazbhaysays the dispute must be resolved quickly, before it inflicts irreparabledamage on the territory of the rupture of the democratic system.

"There isno doubt that this is a moment," he said. "This polarizationcould pose a threat to international peace and security in the sense that it wouldpolarize population, perhaps leading to reverse things out of control, the possibility of extreme Islamic elements such as Al-Shabab thisis see an opportunity to advance their agenda. "

In the center of the crisis brewing of Somaliland is whether the territorycan hold an election without a list of voter registration.

AU.N.-associated organization Interpeace helped TheGovernment Past President Dahir Riyale voterregistration with the process, and it intends to monitor the elections.

Butlast week, the government expelled the head of Interpeace fromSomaliland, accusing the organization, among other things, voter information illegallysharing with officials of Somaliland, the two groups mainopposition, Kulmiye and UCID.

Interpeace denied anywrongdoing. But he acknowledged that the voter registration systemwas, in his words, while being severely abused implementation. Somegovernment supporters have argued that multiple entries in favorof opposition parties were held in several districts.

Somaliland's National Electoral Commission ruled that the presidential election without couldproceed list of voter registration, and the President quicklyendorsed the decision. Kulmiye and UCID said that the decision to list abandonthe amounts to high treason. Opposition members ofparliament are now preparing a motion for dismissal PresidentRiyale.

Professor Jhazbhay feared if a compromise cannotbe reached soon, the dispute in May because of Somalilanders becomedisillusioned with democracy, and it could reinforce fears that thehand al-Shabab extremists. Al-Shabab, which is classified as an organization aterrorist by the United States, is the struggle of the United Nations tooverthrow supported by the Government in the Somali capital Mogadishu, andhas pledged to fight until all of Somalia is united under Conservative anultra Islamic caliphate.

"In the case ofSomaliland, they attempted to shape an agenda and a speech sayingthat advancing democracy is an exercise in the West, where countries likeSomaliland eventually be conducted after an order of the day", at - he said. "This is an attempt to mobilize the people and dispose of what isclearly a cultural democracy and Somali customary law Islamiclaw.

Top head of al-Shabab Ahmed Abdi Godana just the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa. Godana is suspected of ordering suicide attacks in Hargeisa thedeadly last October to a United Nations compound, theEthiopian consulate and the presidential palace.

Somaliland'scurrent president, Dahir Riyale was elected to its peaceful firstfive years in 2003, and until recently, the territory took place UPAS an example of what the rest of Somalia throughdemocratic could achieve the reforms and good governance.

But presidentialvote scheduled for August 2008 was postponedseveral times. The delay has raised concerns from key allies, such as the United States and the European Union on Somaliland commitmentto democracy.

In recent years, Somaliland has been closelycooperating with the West in the fight against terrorism and piracy, inexchange for international diplomatic recognition, he soughtsince declaring independence from Somalia in 1991.

Source: www.tiimi.net