Somalilandsun: The fierce electoral competition in Somaliland – coupled with clan politics and governance challenges – makes it important to understand the implications of the de facto independent state’s recent presidential election outcome.
The opposition coalition Waddani won the November election over the ruling party, Kulmiye. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (also known as Cirro/Irro) secured a five-year mandate.
This election represents a pivotal moment for Somaliland, the Horn of Africa and international politics. Waddani’s victory shows Somaliland’s democratic resilience and potential for inclusive governance.
The election was held after a two-year delay brought on by financial and technical challenges, according to outgoing president Muse Bihi. Waddani has promised to include political voices from marginalised regions. Bihi’s administration had been accused of sidelining some clans.
Somaliland has been de facto independent from Somalia for 33 years, but remains unrecognised internationally. It occupies an 800km coastline on the Gulf of Aden. It has become a beacon of relative peace in the Horn of Africa, a region battling political instability, piracy and transnational conflicts. The region includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.
I have researched Somaliland’s politics for over 10 years. Ahead of the November election, I held interviews with Abdihakim Saeed, a founding member of Waddani. I also spoke in person with Saeed and Mohammad Abdullahi Omar, a former foreign minister and high-ranking leader in Waddani, in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa. These interviews covered what a Waddani victory would mean for Somaliland, its independence from Somalia, and peace and security in the Horn of Africa.
From these conversations, and my research into Somaliland’s challenges, it’s clear that Waddani has three major priorities:
- equitable governance across Somaliland’s six regions to address clan-based tensions
- international recognition for Somaliland’s independence from Somalia
- upholding Somaliland’s reputation for peaceful democratic transitions of power from one party to the other and solving domestic problems on its own without outside help for over 30 years – a marked contrast to its neighbour, Somalia.
Waddani’s victory could herald a new era for Somaliland as a stable, independent and democratic state in a volatile region.
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