Written statement on behalf of the International Community (including: UN, UK, Denmark, US, Sweden, Switzerland and Australia) on the Somaliland electoral process.

SUBJECT: SOMALILAND PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

1. The International Community welcomes Somaliland’s National Election

Commission’s announcement of a timeline for the voter registration process and

a June 1, 2016 date for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. We

commend the National Election Commission for abiding by its constitutional

mandate to submit an electoral timeline to the President based strictly on a

technical process.

2. The International Community have been consistently reassured to hear the

importance that all parties place on following the electoral timeline proposed by

the National Election Commission. In a recent visit to Hargeisa, members of the

International Community met with a cross-section of key stakeholders (the

President, all three Political Parties, and the Guurti) to underline the need to

reach the political consensus necessary to facilitate the completion of the voter

registration process and to ensure elections take place in June, 2016. Any further

delays, not based on technical reasons, will harm public and international

confidence in Somaliland’s democratization process.

3. The International Community stands ready to support Somaliland’s

democratization process.

ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND DEMOCRATISATION STEERING

COMMITTEE

Yours sincerely,

Michael