Catriona Laing

Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Part of UK in Afghanistan

31st March 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe

A New Dawn for Sangin?

Its not often in recent years that there has been a carnival type atmosphere in the Helmand district of Sangin.

Candidates in Sangin standing for election

Internationally Sangin is known for the large number of ISAF casualties – 100 British, and many US Marine deaths since they took over the battlefield in 2010.   But this week saw a unique event take place, over 2000 elders and other notables took part in a secret ballot to elect a District Community Council to represent the people of Sangin.

Coming from all over Sangin, these people had already made the trip to the District Centre three weeks previously to register for the election.  This interaction with Government is very encouraging and gives hope for the future.

As is obvious from the smiles in the photos, being able to vote is welcomed by the people of Sangin, for whom this is a novel experience

Sangin casting their votes
Sangin casting their votes

One female registered to vote and stood for election on the council.  In a unique situation for Helmand she was voted in by men from her community.  There is only one other DCC which has female members, Gereshk, the most liberal of all the Helmand districts.  Most districts in Helmand, certainly the northern districts, women do not appear in the streets and certainly do not take part in local politics.

As we move more and more into transition it was good to see that all the security for the event was conducted by ANSF, working to a plan, the ANA, the ANP and the NDS all played their part in forming a comprehensive security solution which ensured there were no security incidents on the day.

3 comments on “A New Dawn for Sangin?

  1. Loved this blog – especially as had good news about AFghanistan 4a change! Especially heartening 2read that a woman stood and got elected! Way2go!

  2. It’s good to hear some good news come out of sangin. Lets hope there is more. Very pleasing.

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About Catriona Laing

I was born in Cardiff but brought up in South London. I studied economics and joined the civil service through the Government Economic Service after 2.5 years working for the…

I was born in Cardiff but brought up in South London. I studied
economics and joined the civil service through the Government Economic
Service after 2.5 years working for the Government of Botswana as an
infrastructure economist.
I was posted to Kenya to advise on the government’s development
programmes in East Africa, and then seconded to the United Nations
Mission in Somalia heading the UN Development Office.
I spent five years working for Prime Minister Tony Blair in his
strategy unit, and was later posted to head the DFID office in Sudan
running a £116 million programme and addressing the drivers of conflict.
Most recently I have been working for the Ministry of Justice to
establish the new international function with responsibility for
European and international justice.
I live with my partner – Clive Bates and our Sudanese dog – in
Balham. My hobbies are yoga, dog and mountain walking and cooking.