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| “KULMIYE PARTY DILEMMA” Rashiid Abdi — Seattle, WA, USA — 06 March, 2008 |
Nin rWhy it’s getting difficult for Kulmiye chairman tohold the party convention?
Kulmiye party, the supposedly the most democraticpolitical party compared to other existing parties
inSomaliland, is undergoing a serious soul searchingcrisis. The executive committee seems to have lostreality
and in the process derailed all prospects anysuccess against the current administration in theupcoming
elections. Without consulting the Partyexecutive, the Chairman is bent on playing the tribalcard in the delegate
selection to the frequentlypostponed party convention. Clan politics is not theright path to realize a lifetime
dream to lead aconstitutional state. The end does not justify themeans. A party convention along tribal lines is
anonstarter; it is very divisive and no one in hisright mind would float this nonsense. This will leadthe party self-
destruction. The only acceptableformula for delegate selection and allocation shouldbe based on the average
of the total number of thepast two national elections. The breakdown of votes onregional basis is the fairest
and most equitablemodel.
Kulmiye party, the supposedly the most democraticpolitical party compared to other existing parties
inSomaliland, is undergoing a serious soul searchingcrisis. The executive committee seems to have lostreality
and in the process derailed all prospects anysuccess against the current administration in theupcoming
elections. Without consulting the Partyexecutive, the Chairman is bent on playing the tribalcard in the delegate
selection to the frequentlypostponed party convention. Clan politics is not theright path to realize a lifetime
dream to lead aconstitutional state. The end does not justify themeans. A party convention along tribal lines is
anonstarter; it is very divisive and no one in hisright mind would float this nonsense. This will leadthe party self-
destruction. The only acceptableformula for delegate selection and allocation shouldbe based on the average
of the total number of thepast two national elections. The breakdown of votes onregional basis is the fairest
and most equitablemodel.
Now that the convention date is set and the municipaland presidential elections are
fast approaching, it’snecessary for Kulmiye executive committee, if still inexistence, to
agree on a process to guide its membersand to hold a fair and a convention acceptable
to thegrassroots. Although the convention is scheduled forMarch 29th – 31st, the party
hierarchy, including thechairman, so far refused to give any details. This isagainst the
party constitution, by-laws, and otherprocedural guidelines.
In the following few paragraphs, I’ll try to identifyand analyze some facts that will
enable the executivemembers to make its decisions. I’ll demonstrate andextract the
truth with facts and figures taken fromour own past elections data based on 2003
Presidentialelection and 2005 House of Representatives.
fast approaching, it’snecessary for Kulmiye executive committee, if still inexistence, to
agree on a process to guide its membersand to hold a fair and a convention acceptable
to thegrassroots. Although the convention is scheduled forMarch 29th – 31st, the party
hierarchy, including thechairman, so far refused to give any details. This isagainst the
party constitution, by-laws, and otherprocedural guidelines.
In the following few paragraphs, I’ll try to identifyand analyze some facts that will
enable the executivemembers to make its decisions. I’ll demonstrate andextract the
truth with facts and figures taken fromour own past elections data based on 2003
Presidentialelection and 2005 House of Representatives.
The response to this dilemma relies on this analysis:
2003 Presidential election:
AWDAL HARGEISA SAAXIL SANAAG SOOL TOGDHEER Total
UDUB 43347 79328 17554 23359 3715 38105 205408
KULMIYE 16607 81585 10271 27830 5524 63506 205323
UCID 5976 47951 2712 6749 463 13453 77304
Total Valid Votes 65930 208864 30537 57938 9702 115064
Source: Somaliland election department
The total national votes were as follows:
Udub: 205,408 votes or 42.08 %
Kulmiye: 205323 votes or 42.07 %
Ucid: 77,433 votes or 15.85 %
The national distribution of votes per region was asfollow:
Source: Somaliland election department
- Hargeisa - 208,864 votes or 42.00 %
- Togdheer – 115,064 votes or 24 %
- Awdal – 65,930 votes or 14.00 %
- Sanaag – 57,938 votes or 12 %
- Saaxil – 30,537 votes or 6 %
- Sool – 9702 votes or 2 %
2005 House of Representatives election
AWDAL HARGEISA SAAXIL SANAAG SOOL TOGDHEER Total
UDUB 74691 81552 21793 34727 9157 39529 261449
KULMIYE 26837 95881 12355 36652 8964 47639 228328
UCID 31492 75796 18331 17907 2436 34583 180545
Total Valid Votes 133020 253229 52479 89286 20557
121751 670322
Source: Somaliland election department.
The total national votes were as follows:
Udub: 261,449 votes or 39.00 %
Kulmiye: 228,328 votes 34.00 %
Ucid: 77,433 votes or 27.00 %
The national distribution of votes per region was asfollow:
Source: Somaliland election department
- Hargeisa - 253,229 votes or 38.00 %
- Awdal – 133,020 votes or 20.00 %
- Togdheer – 121,751 votes or 18 %
- Sanaag – 89,286 votes or 13 %
- Saaxil – 52,479 votes or 8 %
- Sool – 20,557 votes or 3 %
What does it mean for Kulmiye?
Within this context, we must proceed with cautionanalyzing how much votes Kulmiye political partyreceived in 6
(six) regions in both nationalelections. To minimize any errors/ misleading numbersof votes, a weighted mean is
used to calculate theaverage votes from both elections.
President election votes + H. of Representatives votes= Average votes2
KULMIYE VOTES AWDAL HARGEISA SAAXIL SANAAG SOOL
TOGDHEER TOTAL:
2003 Presidential election 16607 81585 10271 27830
5524 63506 205323
2005 House Representatives 26837 95881 12355 36652
8964 47639 228328
Mean 21722 88733 11313 32241 7244 55573
- Hargeisa - 88,733 average votes – 41 %
- Togdheer – 55,573 average votes – 26 %
- Sanaag – 32,241average votes – 15 %
- Awdal – 21,722 average votes – 10 %
- Saaxil – 11,313 average votes – 5 %
- Sool – 7,244 average votes – 3 %
Selection criteria
As it is impossible to invite everyone in theconvention, let’s use a proportional representationwhich needs to be
discussed between the executivemembers:The numbers of delegates in the convention shouldbased on two
criteria.
A – Financially feasible
B – Suitable location
C - No greater than 500 delegates.
If agreed, then… Numbers of votes / 433
1 – Hargeisa: 88733 votes - 205 Reps
2 – Togdheer: 55573 votes - 128 Reps
3 – Sanaag: 32241 votes - 74 Reps
4 – Awdal: 21722 votes - 50 Reps
5 – Saaxil: 11313 votes - 26 Reps
6 – Sool: 7244 votes - 17 Reps.
National Delegates to the Convention: 500 Members 500 Delegates are required for the convention and willfit
perfectly to our three based criteria above noted. I believe it seems reasonable economically and it willbe easier
to find a very good location to accommodate500 delegates and also easier for the party to financeand hold its
convention in a democratic manner. Thisprocess is a clear and concise fairness and withoutprejudice contrary
to the previous failure attempts.
My suggestion is that the chairman in each of the sixregions will have the authority and responsibility toselect
the grass roots Kulmiye population in eachvillage, county, and city from allocated members, It is the
responsibility of the executive committee todraft detailed guidelines for regional chairmen to follow.
Sample: Hargeisa selection.
From the 205 Representatives – guidelines could besuch as:
- 10 % allocated to women – 20 Reps
- 20 % allocated to recently university (graduated) –41 Reps
- 50 % allocated to active members (supporters) - 102Reps
- 20 % allocated to senior members (supporters) - 41Reps
Kulmiye Representatives in the House of Parliament It has been circulated in the local media that membersof
Parliament from Kulmiye party would like tointerfere with the convention process of selectingdelegates.
I, personally, believe that their role ofresponsibility as parliament members of Somalilandwill not allow them to
participate during delegates’selection period. If they do so, it will be anothermanipulative and deeply divisive
within the party. Theresponsibility of the members of parliament should beconfined to overview the convention
process andconsult within the executive committee on the benefitand successes of the convention.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude that this analysis is basedon solid facts and figures from the results of ourpast national
elections. I would like to emphasize tothe responsible members of Kulmiye political party toanalyze, review,
debate, discuss and study thisprocess for not only our own success of holding a fairand a democratic
convention, but a starting point forall other political parties in Somaliland. My advice to the executive committee
and to themembers of parliament of Kulmiye party is to evaluatethis process as a foundation or backbone for
futureconventions. This will strengthen us and will putfirst in line as a winning political party, ready togovern
Somaliland.
Let’s be a winning team and give example to the rest.
Abdulkarim Musse Meigag
Toronto, Ontario
abdulkmu@yahoo.ca
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