With
regard to elections in Africa, multiple concerns arise. We have observed
elections in Africa that have resulted in political turmoil, civilian violence,
and economic devastation from which recovery is still pending. A very few
states in Africa has succeeded in conducting free and fair elections, and
subsequently, the losing president peacefully transfers authority.
We
understand that African leaders frequently intervene and openly meddle in the
process of presidential elections and the results, if the likely voting results
indicates an unfavorable that could lead in his removal from the office.
For instance, during the 2007–2008
elections, political turmoil occurred in Kenya. Approximately 1,300 individuals
killed in demonstrations. The conflict arose after the Kenyan electoral
commission declared the presidential election as won by the incumbent president,
Mwai Kibaki, while leaders and followers of the Orange Democratic Party
dismissed the results.
The
election results ignited a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in
Kenya and directed the nation onto a new political trajectory, dividing
authority between the opposition and the conservatives, who established a
coalition government.
Somaliland, a tiny nation in the Horn of
Africa that has not gained worldwide recognition and financially developing,
managed to conduct one-person, one-vote elections that led to the shift of
leadership to a democratically elected leader during its 34-year period, and
what must be mentioned is that the elections were peaceful, and the results
were unanimous.
Up to this point, four presidents have been elected freely by the
people. Once more, Somaliland exists as a de facto state without global
acknowledgment, and it possesses a fully functioning government system with
well-functioning institutions and state bodies. Somaliland represents an
undeniable reality on the global stage that cannot be overlooked.
The Somaliland elections on 13th November 2024 were characterized by
the global community as a showcase of democracy where the citizens illustrated
to African nations, notably those in the Horn of Africa, the extent of
knowledge they have attained in electoral psychology. Truly, it was an election
comparable to those conducted in the developed world regarding the manner in
which the parties competed, the seamless operation of the electoral process,
and the technology employed, including the iris verification device.
Somaliland
conducted a fascinating election that attracted significant observation from
nations in the Horn of Africa and other allies, both regionally and globally.
It was notably intriguing how a tiny, unrecognized nation successfully
orchestrated a democratic election allowing citizens to vote freely for their
preferred candidate and political party.
Furthermore,
it gained international focus as all costs associated with the election were
covered by the government treasury, demonstrating that Somaliland possesses the
financial capability to undertake substantial projects such as elections. The
outgoing government has previously conducted simultaneous elections for the
Parliament and local councils.
If
we examine the subject closely, we can discover five significant insights from
the Somaliland elections.
1.
The citizens got the power of voting.
The
citizens of Somaliland have realized that they are able to elect a president
who embodies their needs, and they also have the option to remove the ruling
leader if he has not fulfilled the national duties for which he was sworn. This
is the essence of every election, and this is where democracy starts.
2.
Social partitions turn of after
harsh campaigns.
The Somaliland Electoral Commission (NEC) has established the campaign
timeline for the 2024 presidential and national parties. This timeline has
provided a duration of 23 days for presidential candidates and national parties
to showcase the strength of their supporters and to inform the public of their
political agendas that they aspire to lead the nation.
This was the most captivating and exciting part of the whole project.
The old three parties and newly registered ones showcased exhibitions in which
their fans displayed the level of their support for their party/candidate. The
backers adorned themselves with the emblems and banners of their party. This
exhibition was the most stunning of the election initiative, and it garnered
the interest of other Somalis and nations in the Horn of Africa. That’s when we are concentrating on the most successful aspect of the election campaign.
On the contrary, the election campaign and political strategies in the
nation throughout the previous year have been vigorous. The campaign phase proved to be challenging, and the
community experienced significant fragmentation, as politicians drove a divide
within the populace to safeguard their backers and discourage their
adversaries. A situation emerged where advocates of different parties and
groups came into conflict in certain regions.
As the circumstances here advanced, numerous worried individuals and
intellectuals voiced their fears regarding the unity and stability of the
community. The employment of overt tribalism and provocative language surfaced,
which adversely affected the community and weakened democracy.
The separation of society throughout the campaign timeframe did not
signify the destruction of social unity, and that concern ceased on the morning
of the election on 13 November 2024. From that moment forward, society
disregarded the campaign fervor and divisions and paid attention to the
preliminary outcomes and the hopes for the triumph of their party or
presidential contender.
3.
Understanding the Psychology
of Elections.
Understanding the Psychology of Elections is the element that allowed
the Somaliland people to successfully execute the election project. This component
is one of its significance. Elections is a broad term, but the sub-tasks within
the election project each carry their own importance and influence.
The intensity of the election campaign, the financial strain the
country faces during the election period, the fragmentation of society during
this period, the differing political ideologies among the competing leaders,
the crafting of the roadmap and timeline for the execution of the election by
the electoral commission, the diligent efforts on election day, and the anxiety
surrounding the agreed results can be described as the psychology of elections
that the citizens of Somaliland comprehend.
If we concentrate on the end results, the departing president Muse Bihi
Abdi congratulated the elected president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilaahi Irro,
revealing his pleasure with the outcomes of the November 13 elections in
Somaliland. This can be attributed to political development and political
dedication.
In the case of the developing nations, the primary issue confronting an electoral commission is whether the incumbent president will acknowledge the results or not. The result recognition from President Muse Bihi and the accolades for President-elect Mohamed Abdilaahi Ciro were the key public occurrences throughout the election process, and worldwide documented that Somaliland is an advanced initiative whose presence is now solidly established.
5.
Integrity of the National Electoral
Commission (NEC).
The Somaliland Electoral Commission executed and took the most crucial
role in the electoral process up to the final results. This election was conducted
and overseen by a youthful committee that was technically proficient, but their
experience may be limited compared to prior committees. The reflection we are
examining here is the distrust between the ruling conservatives, and the
opposition candidates. In this case, the distrust is at a significant level
between both parties. Consequently, the electoral commission is operating in a
challenging environment, steering clear of anything that could jeopardize their
election projects.
The electoral commission responsible for overseeing the Somaliland
elections on 13 November demonstrated a high level of well-trained teams who
effectively managed the electoral process. This achievement was significantly
supported by the dedicated efforts of the youth, who received training from
qualified instructors provided by the National Electoral Commission's training
department. The development of the general election agenda, the scheduling of
the election campaign, and the execution of the electoral process were executed
without any major issues. Notably, the errors associated with the election were
recorded at less than 1%.
The international community ought to
endorse the Somaliland initiative by facilitating access to financial
opportunities, political, and diplomatic assistance to foster the region's
progress and security.
Mohamed M Jaaj.