1961 Somali constitutional referendum

1961 Somali constitutional referendum

20 June 1961
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 1,756,216 90.56% No 183,000 9.44% Valid votes 1,939,216 99.53% Invalid or blank votes 9,132 0.47% Total votes 1,948,348 100.00%

A constitutional referendum was held in Somalia on 20 June 1961 to vote on the new constitution for the country created the previous year by the union of the State of Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somaliland. It was approved by 91% of voters.^[1]

In the territory of former State of Somaliland, the Somali National League (SNL) party encouraged a boycott of the referendum, and 60% of the approximately 100,000 votes from the area opposed the constitution. However the south of the country had 1,952,660 voters, effectively giving the south the power of veto, and obfuscated the fact there was no popular mandate for a union.^[2]

Conduct

More votes were cast in Wanlaweyn, a small town in southern Somalia, than in the entirety of Somaliland. This created a climate of distrust and a new term for southerners – Wanla Weyn.^[3]

Results

Choice		Votes	%
For		1,756,216	90.56
Against		183,000	9.44
Total		1,939,216	100.00
Valid votes		1,939,216	99.53
Invalid/blank votes		9,132	0.47
Total votes		1,948,348	100.00
Source: Middle East Institute

Aftermath

The Greater Somalia League, Somali National League and United Somali Party petitioned the High Court against the outcome. However, the constitution was ratified on 1 July, although the referendum results were only approved by the High Court on 4 July.^[4]

References

1. Elections in Somalia African Elections Database
2. Poore, Brad. "Somaliland: Shackled to a Failed State". Stanford Journal of International Law. (45) 1.
3. Diriye Abdullahi, M. (2001) Culture And Customs Of Somalia, Greenwood Publishing Group, p.27
4. "Chronology: June 16, 1961 – September 15, 1961" (PDF). Middle East Journal. 15 (4): 436. 1961.