In a striking contrast to the authoritarian wave sweeping much of the world, the Republic of Somaliland has emerged as a standout performer in Freedom House’s latest assessments, earning a 47/100 “Partly Free” rating—far surpassing its neighbors and many established states in the region.
While the 2025 Freedom in the World report (covering events through 2024, with trends extending into recent evaluations) documented the 19th consecutive year of net global freedom decline—with more countries backsliding than advancing due to coups, repression, and weakened democratic safeguards—Somaliland bucked the trend.
Its score reflects gains from successfully holding a long-delayed, peaceful, and competitive presidential election, boosting political rights and demonstrating resilient electoral processes since it restored its independence from Somalia in 1991, and gained recognition from Israel, the first UN member state to do so in late 2025.
Somaliland’s 47/100 markedly outpaces:
Somalia at 8/100 (Not Free),
Ethiopia (around 18/100 in regional comparisons),
Tunisia (42/100),
Morocco (37/100),
and numerous other Horn of Africa and Arab-world peers grappling with instability or autocratic consolidation.
Despite not yet receiving full formal international recognition, Somaliland’s relative success in maintaining competitive elections, civil liberties, and governance stability offers a compelling counter-narrative to broader democratic erosion.
Challenges remain, including occasional pressures on media and civic space, yet its model continues to draw attention as a rare bright spot in a region—and a world—where freedom is increasingly under siege.