Politics of Somaliland

For its first twelve years, Somaliland had no political parties but instead followed more traditional clan-based forms of political organization. Political parties were introduced during the presidential elections and it was hoped that the recent parliamentary elections would help to usher in a representative system without allowing representation to be overtly clan-based.[3]

Somaliland Investment Conference in London, 2011

District elections then held determined which parties were allowed to contest the parliamentary and presidential elections, where a party was required to demonstrate at least twenty percent of the popular vote from four out of the six regions. This was designed to ensure that parties would not organize around ethnic lines. Three parties were selected to submit presidential candidates: the United Democratic Peoples’ Party (UDUB), Kulmiye, and the Party for Justice and Welfare (UCID). On April 14, 2003, 488,543 voters participated in the presidential elections, which ran more or less smoothly. The result was a slim eighty vote controversial victory for UDUB over the Kulmiye, complicated by allegations of ballot stuffing against the incumbent UDUB. Despite calls for the Kulmiye to form a rival government, the party’s leadership did not do so, instead choosing to abide by the Supreme Court ruling that declared UDUB’s victory. Despite minor demonstrations, the transition to the presidency of Dahir Riyale Kahin proceeded peacefully. A traditional system of governance consisted of clan elders who go by titles such as sultans, guurti or akils. They usually ordered the paying of diya, which is a payment system for any grievances, or dealt in arbitration matters.[4]

The outgoing president, Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur, leaves the hall alongside newly elected President Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal. Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur is being congratulated by an elder on his decision to accept the outcome of the election and stand down peacefully after several days intense debate and negotiation.

Somaliland has a hybrid system of governance combining traditional and western institutions. In a series of inter-clan conferences, culminating in the Borama Conference in 1993, a qabil (clan or community) system of government was constructed, which consisted of an Executive, with a President, Vice President, and legislative government; a bicameral Legislature; and an independent judiciary.[5] The traditional Somali elderates (guurti) was incorporated into the governance structure and formed the upper house, responsible for managing internal conflicts. Government became in essence a "power-sharing coalition of Somaliland's main clans," with seats in the Upper and Lower houses proportionally allocated to clans according to a pre-determined formula. In 2002, after several extensions of this interim government, Somaliland finally made the transition to multi-party democracy, with district council elections contested by six parties.[5]

Despite setbacks in 1994 and 1996, Somaliland has managed to prosper, assisted by its trade in livestock with Saudi Arabia. According to The Economist, it is east Africa’s strongest democracy.[6]

It faces some significant problems to its continued survival. Like other Somali governments, it lacks a consistent taxation base and receives most of its support from private actors. Corruption remains a problem, women are virtually unrepresented in government, and there are growing concerns about voting patterns based on ethnic lines.

Economic development has been heavily supported by the diaspora, although lack of international recognition prevents international aid to it as a country.

In 2005 Somaliland joined the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), an international organization dedicated to the promotion of the right to self-determination.[7] The UN still says there are some boundaries Somaliland will have to cross before it is recognized.[8]

The Parliament (Baarlamaanka) has two chambers. The House of Representatives (Golaha Wakiilada) has 82 members, elected for a five-year term. The House of Elders (Golaha Guurtida) has 82 members, representing traditional leaders.

Somaliland elects on national level a head of state (the president) and a legislature. The president is elected by the people for a five-year term. The Constitution limits the number of legal political parties to three at a time. As of 2012, the three legal political parties in the country are the Peace, Unity, and Development Party, Waddani, and For Justice and Development.

Parliamentary elections

Main article: 2021 Somaliland parliamentary election

Official results of the election took about a week to be announced.[10] The NEC released provisional results of five electoral districts – Garadag, Hudun, Lughaya, Salahlay and Zeila – on 2 June.[11] In those districts, Kulmiye received 24 seats, Waddani received 15, and UCID received 10.[11] The NEC warned government officials and political parties against speculating on election results while counting was still underway.[12]

On 6 June, the NEC published the final results, announcing that Waddani had received 31 seats, Kulmiye had received 30 seats, and UCID had received 21 seats.[13] In a joint statement, Waddani and UCID announced they would form a governing coalition.[13] Waddani and UCID also won a majority of seats together in the municipal elections.[13] Of the 13 female candidates, none were elected to a parliamentary seat.[13]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Waddani	258,658	37.22	31	New
	Kulmiye Peace, Unity, and Development Party	256,524	36.91	30	+2
	Justice and Welfare Party	179,735	25.86	21	0
Total		694,917	100.00	82	0
Registered voters/turnout		1,065,847	–
Source: EC, Reuters, EC

A meeting of the Muse Bihi cabinet (2020)

The Council of Ministers run the day-to-day operations of the country. The cabinet is nominated by the president and the president has the authority to nominate, reshuffle and also dismiss the ministers. Ministers are approved by the House of Representatives which is the lower house of the Parliament. The cabinet is composed of ministers, deputy ministers and also state ministers. The number of ministers in Somaliland changes from time to time, and now there is composed of the 23 Ministries,[15] as the cabinet is reshuffled. As of 1 December 2019, the cabinet consists of:[16]

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system
• Foreign relations of Somaliland

• African Elections Database
• Constitution of Somaliland (unofficial English translation)