Sanaag(The horn) Sanaag is not only the biggest region but also the most sparsely populated in Somaliland as well, requiring special preferences on various issues.
This was stated by the deputy secretary general of opposition Wadani party Jamal Jama Hamud during a briefing to Geeska Afrika, our sister Somali language paper in Hargeisa where he argued that the four days allocated to voter registration are not sufficient for the sprawling Sanaag region.
To first put matters into the correct perspective the opposition politician who is originally from the country’s eastern region revealed that his Wadani party is in complete support of the planned voter registration announced by the national elections commission-NEC
In pursuit of implementing a presidential directive the electoral body recently issued its timetable for a four phased voter registration that commences on November 29 2020 and culminate on the 13th January 2021.
These dates will see NEC undertake only the registration of new voters while those already registered and have lost their cards or want to change voting venue will be accommodated later.
In that period the nationwide exercise that is to be implemented in four phases has Sanaag and Sool regions being served in a period of four days.
“while we agree and support NEC in this endeavour our concern as a party is the four days timeframe that we deem insufficient for the eastern regions” said the Wadani party SG adding that this is due to the immense size and sparse location of those targeted for registration who are entirely nomads.
To this effect the opposition Wadani party urges NEC to review its timetable thence avail residents of Sanaag region sufficient time to register as voters in the forthcoming Parliamentary and local councils elections slated for the second quarter of 2012.
While the opposition Wadani party is popular in many party of the country it main base of support comes from the eastern regions of Somaliland.
