Ann in Somaliland: Kulmiye!

On Thursday evening around 7pm, every nurses' station in the hospital had a cluster of people...nurses and patients...as they sat awaiting the announcement of the election results on BBC radio. Across town at the Maan-Soor Hotel, Edna and others from the community awaited for the final announcement by the Somaliland Election Commissioner. By 8pm, a cry of celebration had gone up across the hospital and all of Hargeisa as people celebrated for the announcement of Ahmed Mahomoud Silanyo, of the Kulmiye opposition party, as having won the presidential election with 49.59% of the vote.

I cannot even begin to explain the contagious excitement over the election I have witnessed for the past two days. The decision was made to announce the results on Thursday evening, rather than the previously announced date of today (Saturday), so that Somalilanders would have an entire day of celebration since Friday is the weekend here. On Thursday night the streets filled with people. For the next 24 hours, there would be a continuous level of noise in the city as people yelled, clapped, sang, danced, drummed, and expressed their joy over the results. We watched from the roof of the hospital as masses of people gathered in the streets, vehicles passed by filled to the brim of Kulmiye supporters waving his flag, and we even saw three lone fireworks in the distance.

The saying in Africa normally goes that "the president always wins." Look at the elections being held in Ethiopia and Kenya in the past year or so and neither country was able to hold an election free from corruption. The trend has actually been away from successful Democratic elections in the past few years in Africa. In a country of civilians that strongly opposes the government, the incumbent Ethiopian government won 99% of the vote this past May due to intimidation (including the withholding of food aid to regions supporting the opposition) and an unfair election. Not even a recognized country, Somaliland, has been able to hold what is being hailed as a free and fair election.

I was a bit worried about what elections would mean and bring while I was here, but these past few days have shown the people of Somaliland as able to realize their hopes for a peaceful and fair election. On Friday, we spent the day celebrating with Edna! I do not believe anything in the world could have broken her jubilant spirit as she drove a group of us North Americans around town. We ended at the Maan-Soor Hotel, where Edna in her usual social butterfly fashion visited with other well known officials in Somaliland and international visitors in town for the election result announcement. Before we left the hotel, we also got to see the president-elect! He was in a room upstairs and came down and out through the lobby to be greeted by the Somali people. I do not think I ever again will stand as close to a president-elect as I did on Friday.

Even if the Kulmiye party won, many feared the government would not concede. The UDUB party (government) has already announced they will step down. This almost makes them as big of heroes as they are encouraging a smooth transition. Over the next month, the outgoing and incoming presidents and their various ministers will transition.

The people of Somaliland are looking ahead with new hope and excitement. More than anything else, they hope that these elections will bring international recognition and respect to their country. It truly is an exciting time to be in Somaliland!

A building in town decorated in support of Kulmiye!