Editor
Somalilandsun – On 01.05.2013 the African Research Institute ( ARI ) in London launched its latest publication in its Policy Voices series – “AFTER BORAMA: Consensus, representation and parliament in Somaliland”.
The publication provides insights into the experiences of Somalilanders in negotiating peace and building inclusive democratic institutions since the country’s declaration of independence in 1991.
A keynote speech was delivered by Mohamed Omar, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Somaliland government; he was joined on the panel by Haroon Ahmed Yusuf(of Nagaad – the national women’s network) and Farah Jirdeh (founder of the Pharo Foundation). Hamish Wilson gave a brief presentation about the 1993 Borama Conference, a signal event in Somaliland’s history at which he was the only non-Somali present.
On the eve of local elections in November 2012, Africa Research Institute interviewed ten prominent Somalilanders, including the three Speakers of the House of Representatives, two government ministers, MPs, civil society activists and representatives of women’s organisations. The conversations presented in After Borama: Consensus, representation and parliament in Somaliland 
focus on the way in which political stability has been maintained since the landmark Borama conference in 1993 – and on approaches that need to be adapted in the future. Collectively, they are a timely assessment of democratic politics, the role of institutions and national development priorities in Somaliland.
The Conference of Elders of the Communities of Somaliland in Borama established the institutional founda
tions of an independent state. More than 2,000 people attended the gathering. The 150-member Guurti – a council of elders drawn from all clans – constituted the voting delegates. In the course of four months, consensus was reached about disarmament and demobilisation following the overthrow of President Mohamed Siyad Barre’s government, inclusive political representation and the creation of institutions – the bedrock of two decades of relative peace and stability.
The personal accounts set out in these pages offer important insights into the experiences of Somalilanders in negotiating peace and building inclusive democratic institutions. In Section 1, the Speakers of the Somaliland Parliament recall the evolution of democratic politics, citing a longstanding history of participatory dispute resolution between clans, the conduct of the Somali National Movement, and adoption of a new constitution by referendum in 2001. Section 2 explores the important function elections fulfil in establishing equitable representation for Somalilanders – and maintaining sta
bility. The emotive debate about the role of women in formal politics is also discussed.
Section 3 focuses on the functioning of parliament. Particular attention is given to the House of Elders –its relationship with the executive and the House of Representatives, and its participation in lawmaking. In Section 4, Somaliland’s Minister for National Planning and Development reflects on his experiences of dealing with international donor organisations, and sets out clear priorities for job creation, revenue generation and infrastructure development. A thoughtful and constructive postscript is contributed by the co-ordinator of the international
election observation missions in 2005, 2011 and 2012.
The political and economic achievements outlined in After Borama, the latest publication in Africa Research Institute’s Policy Voices series, should be widely acknowledged and lauded – but not romanticised. For two decades, Somaliland has ploughed its own furrow – through success and setback. Download complete After Borama here
