Somaliland NEC Meets Taiwan Envoy to Review Progress on Electoral Management System

Hargeisa (SLpost)- The Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) has held a meeting with Taiwan’s Representative to Somaliland, Allen Chenhwa Lou, and his deputy, Allison H.C. Chao, to discuss the ongoing development of Somaliland’s new voter registration and electoral management system.

According to NEC statement, the meeting, chaired by NEC Chairman Muse Hassan Yusuf, focused on the progress of the Integrated Electoral Management System (IEMS) and Taiwan’s continued technical and financial support for Somaliland’s electoral institutions. The discussions also covered opportunities to strengthen cooperation and improve the efficiency, accuracy and integrity of electoral administration.

The Integrated Electoral Management System is part of the NEC’s broader efforts to modernize electoral administration and strengthen the management of voter registration and election-related data. The Commission says it has also been advancing institutional reforms and has implemented biometric voter registration across Somaliland’s regions and electoral districts.

Taiwan’s Continuzd Support for Somaliland Elections

During the meeting, the NEC expressed appreciation to Taiwan for its assistance to Somaliland’s electoral process, particularly its support for the 2021 parliamentary and local council elections and the 2024 presidential and political party elections.

Taiwan provided Somaliland with 2,500 iris biometric voter-verification systems valued at approximately US$2 million ahead of the 2021 parliamentary and local council elections. The technology was intended to strengthen voter identification and help reduce the risk of multiple voting.

In 2024, Taiwan pledged an additional US$2 million to support Somaliland’s electoral process. Taiwan’s representative, Allen Lou, said the assistance was intended to contribute to transparency, accountability, fairness and public trust in the elections.

The iris biometric equipment supplied in 2021 was also used in preparations for the November 2024 elections, demonstrating the continuing role of Taiwan-supported electoral technology in Somaliland’s election infrastructure.

Taiwan Representative Allen Chenhwa Lou and Deputy Allison H.C. Chao during a meeting with Somaliland National Electoral Commission officials — Taiwan Representative Allen Chenhwa Lou and Deputy Representative Allison H.C. Chao during discussions with Somaliland National Electoral Commission officials on electoral management and voter registration.

Electoral Cooperation Between Somaliland and Taiwan

The latest meeting comes amid several years of institutional cooperation between Somaliland and Taiwan in the field of democratic governance and electoral management. In January 2024, Chairman Muse Hassan Yusuf led an NEC delegation to Taiwan, where officials met with Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Central Election Commission to exchange experience on electoral systems, election administration and democratic governance.

The NEC delegation’s visit included discussions on Taiwan’s election procedures and vote-counting mechanisms, while Taiwanese officials highlighted the shared interest of the two sides in strengthening democratic institutions and electoral cooperation.

The latest discussions therefore represent a continuation of the electoral partnership between the two sides, with the focus now shifting toward the modernization of Somaliland’s electoral management infrastructure and the development of an integrated system for managing voter registration and related electoral processes.

The NEC, which is mandated to oversee presidential, parliamentary and local council elections as well as voter registration and voter education, has described institutional modernization and cooperation with international partners as important elements of strengthening Somaliland’s electoral system.