20100625
africanews

Somaliland, which is more tribally homogenous than the rest of Somalia, has been striving to attain international recognition for almost two decades and many voters saw the election as a fresh opportunity to demonstrate their aspiring state's democratic credentials.

The self-proclaimed state of Somaliland closed its borders on Saturday as voters chose their president amid fears Islamists from neighbouring Somalia could try to disrupt the polls.

The police chief Mohamed Saqadi Dubad said that all our country's forces are locking the borders. Movements and transport inside Somaliland are also forbidden except for those authorised by the national election commission (NEC).

Kulmiye, which won the largest number of seats in the latest parliamentary elections, is the party of Ahmed Mohamed Silaanyo, seen as President Dahir Riyale Kahin's main rival in Saturday's poll.

Earlier this week, overall Shebab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, a native of Somaliland, issued an audio message warning the breakaway state's population that they would "face the consequences" if they cast their ballot. Also Somaliland has strong ties with Shebab arch-foe Ethiopia.