Municipal elections were held across Somaliland on 15 December 2002. Six political associations fielded 2368 candidates for local council seats. There were 379 council seats nationally although 47 seats were not contested. Voting was postponed in Las Anod and Taleex due to local security conditions and at 16 polling stations in Buhoodle District. In Hudun, Badhan and Dhahar, only one candidate ist was submitted, so no elections took place, while in Laskorey no political association sumitted a candidate list. electoral districts.

Prior to these elections, local government only consisted of a mayor and a councillor both appointed by the Ministry of Interior by the recommendation of the President. These elections would pave way for the establishment of popularly-elected local governments that were directly responsible to local constituencies.

Political associations The Constitution of Somaliland stipulated that only three political parties could exist at any one time. As a result, the three associations that gained the largest numbers of local council seats would become the official political parties and enjoyed exclusive legitimacy for the next ten years. A political organisation had to achieve 20% of the vote in at least four of Somaliland's six regions in order to become a national party and contest presidential and parliamentary elections.

The contenders that took part in this process included:

United Peoples' Democratic Party (UDUB) led by President Dahir Riyale Kahin Peace, Unity, and Development Party (Kulmiye) headed by Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud For Justice and Development (UCID) led by Faysal Ali Warabe Sahan led by Dr Mohamed Abdi Gaboose Asad led by Suleiman Mohamoud Adan Hormood led by Umar Ghalib

Results Over 440,000 people took part in the country's first municipal elections. Results were announced a week later by the National Electoral Commission, with UDUB, Kulmiye and UCID finishing as the top three parties.

The elections also determined which three political organizations would be recognized as national political parties. UDUB, Kulmiye and UCID received the three highest national vote totals and became eligible to contest subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections. The 118 councillors elected on the lists of Sahan, Hormood and ASAD, which did not qualify as national parties, were required to join one of the three recognized parties.

by Regions

+ Voting Results in 2002 Local Government Elections Region UDUBKulmiye UCID SAHAN HORMOD ASAD Total Votes Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Hargeisa 70,989 38.09% 29,923 16.05% 30,676 16.46% 14,748 7.91% 29,104 15.62% 10,943 5.87% 186,383 Awdal 58,939 58.65% 13,679 13.61% 7,422 7.39% 4,499 4.48% 7,229 7.19% 8,727 8.68% 100,495 Togdheer 18,330 27.52% 17,476 26.24% 4,821 7.24% 15,234 22.87% 1,454 2.18% 9,283 13.94% 66,598 Sanaag 16,574 31.22% 13,701 25.80% 3,401 6.41% 11,356 21.39% 1,409 2.65% 6,655 12.53% 53,096 Sahil 13,502 49.58% 5,309 19.49% 2,900 10.65% 2,054 7.54% 1,188 4.36% 2,281 8.38% 27,234 Sool 1,173 18.99% 1,223 19.80% 692 11.21% 1,303 21.10% 232 3.76% 1,553 25.15% 6,176 Total 179,507 41.20% 81,311 18.20% 49,912 11.20% 49,194 11.10% 40,616 9.10% 39,442 8.90% 439,982 Source: African Elections Database

Aftermath The elections were viewed largely as a success and was an essential step in the transition from a clan-based formed of governance to a democracy.

Political associations that ranked fourth or lower ceased to exist. Although Sahan passed the threshold of receiving 20% of the votes in at least four regions and UCID did not, it was decided that UCID's higher national vote share qualified it to become the third party, a controversial decision.

Councillors from the associations that were dissolved were subsequently required to join one of the newly appointed national parties, UDUB, Kulmiye or UCID.

References