1.2 million voters are called to the polls on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. This is the fourth time that the inhabitants of this self-proclaimed republic will directly elect their leader since its separation from Somalia in 1991. Three candidates are in the running.
Since its reclaimed their sovereignty from Somalia, Somaliland has made its democratic stability the foundation of its legitimacy and one of the main arguments in its struggle for international recognition. But this election is taking place in a particularly tense atmosphere.
As the main campaign argument, Muse Bihi puts forward this Memorandum of Understanding announced earlier this year, which provides for Ethiopia access to the sea, in exchange for recognition by Somaliland. But this agreement has set fire to the gunpowder in the region and seems to have been a dead letter ever since
Two candidates against the outgoing President
On the other side, there are two other candidates: Faysal Ali Warabe of the Social Justice Party and, above all, Abdirahman Irro of the Waddani party, a historic opponent, campaigned on the promise of maintaining Somaliland’s unity. He accused the accused sitting president of fanciding clan splits.
On Sunday, he received weightful support from the outgoing Vice-President. He also had a revenge to take … in 2017, he had challenged his defeat for a week before conceding it, without acknowledging the results, but he had said at the time “to maintain unity and peace” of Somaliland.
According to Omar Mahmoud, a researcher at the International Crisis Group, this election represents a test for democratic stability in Somaliland, a key argument in its quest for recognition: “Every election held in Somaliland is more contested than the previous one. The climate is becoming increasingly politicized. So far, politicians in Somaliland have instead sided their personal ambitions for a common goal, that of Somaliland’s independence. But we feel that this imperative has weakened over time. This is perhaps the biggest test for Somaliland to date and the outcome is highly uncertain.”
Affluence at polling stations
On Wednesday, November 13, an important day for the inhabitants of this self-proclaimed republic. The attendance at the polling stations bears witness to this. In Hargeisa, queues were visible at dawn and on social media, videos are shared, showing voters with disabilities, determined to vote. On one of them, you even see a woman just out of her hospital bed, her infusion still in her hand.
Whatever their candidate, Somali people are committed to proving to the world their ability to hold a peaceful election, the results of which will not be disputed. Somaliland has always made its democratic vitality an argument in an attempt to gain international recognition.