SOMALIA - SOMALILAND PRESIDENT RIYALE REJECTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 002178

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - SOMALILAND PRESIDENT RIYALE REJECTS
OPPOSITION ELECTION COMMISSION NOMINEES

Classified By: Ambassador Ranneberger for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: Somaliland President Riyale, in a likely
attempt to delay naming his own nominees, rejected two
opposition nominations for the National Electoral Commission
(NEC). Riyale managed to convince opposition UCID party
Chairman Faisal to withdraw his nominee. In an October 13
telecon with the Ambassador, Riyale said guessed that
Kulmiye party Chairman Silanyo would propose a new nominee.
However, Silanyo in an October 13 telecon told us that Riyale
does not have the right nor the grounds to reject Kulmiye's
nominee . In addition, contacts tell us Riyale on October 12
held closed door meetings with the , Somaliland's elder-based
upper house of parliament (the Guurti),in an effort to
broker negotiations over its NEC nominations. The Ambassador
urged Riyale to resolve disputes over the composition of the
NEC quickly and reminded Riyale that it is important that
Somaliland serve as a good example of democratization in the
region. We are encouraging all parties to resolve the NEC
issue and move forward on the election process. End summary.

2. (C) President Riyale has in recent days rejected two
opposition party nominations for the NEC on technical
grounds. Riyale publicly complained that the UCID nominee
served on the previous NEC and that the Kulmiye nominee was a
party board member. Contacts in Somaliland tell us Riyale is
worried that the Kulmiye nominee, if appointed, would have
too much influence in the NEC because she is a well-regarded
public figure, "known for getting things done". UCID party
chairman Faisal reportedly accepted the President's rejection
of his candidate and nominated another commissioner. (Note:
We have been unable to contact Faisal, who is reportedly en
route to Nairobi. End note.) However, Kulmiye Chairman
Ahmed Silanyo told us that his party's candidate resigned
long ago from Kulmiye's Executive Board. (Note: Riyale had
argued that the presence of the candidate on the Executive
Board made her ineligible to join the NEC. End note.)
Silanyo in an October 12 press statement alleged that
Somaliland's electoral law gives only the Guurti, not the
President, the authority to consider NEC nominations. Silanyo
told us that Riyale on October 12 had appeared convinced by
many of Silanyo's arguments but that Riyale's inner circle
later influenced the President.

3. (C) In an October 13 telecon with the Ambassador, Riyale
reiterated concerns that the Kulmiye nominee was an Executive
Board member. Riyale told the Ambassador that UCID and
Kulmiye's actions broke Somaliland electoral law. Riyale
alleged to Ambassador that he had held talks with Silanyo on
October 12 and expressed confidence that Silanyo would agree
to propose a new nominee. The Ambassador urged Riyale to
resolve disputes over the composition of the NEC quickly and
reminded Riyale that it is important that Somaliland serve as
a good example of democratization in the region.

4. (C) Our contacts tell us Riyale is probably also rejecting
the opposition candidates in order to buy time for
negotiations with the Guurti over its nominees. The Guurti
Chairman appears to have outmaneuvered Riyale in clan terms,
putting the President in a politically difficult position.
(Note: Riyale's Gadabursi subclan is historically
represented by Guurti representatives to the NEC. The
Chairman however,, reportedly wants to name a Warsengeli and
an Arab Issaq to the NEC instead of a Gadabursi. This leaves
Riyale with the difficult choice of nominating a Gadabursi
who is not a strong ally of the President or opening himself
up to political criticism that he is nominating his family,
if he appoints a supporter from his own subclan. End note.)

5. (C) The Ambassador told Riyale that he would like to
follow up weekly with the President and pressed for quick
agreement on composition of the NEC. We are encouraging all
parties to resolve the NEC issue so that they may move
forward on the election process.
RANNEBERGER