Somaliland presidential election: 7 things about why polls in Somalia’s breakaway region matter

Somaliland, a de facto state in the Horn of Africa, began voting on Wednesday to choose its next president. The region is a breakaway faction of Somalia that often finds itself sandwiched between Ethiopia and Somalia’s conflicts.

Presidential elections in Somaliland will define the political landscape of the East African region as the region plays a key role in the power dynamics of both Somalia and Ethiopia.

Local media showed voters waiting in line to cast their ballots, with many saying they want a stronger economy and more jobs, among other local priorities.

Here are seven things to know why the polls matter:

• Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 by a unilateral decision. However, under international law, it is still part of Somalia and so its claim to sovereignty has remained largely unrecognised in the world. With this election, Somaliland hopes to forge an image for itself in the international community

• President Muse Bihi Abdi of the ruling Kulmiye Party is seeking a second term after seven years in office. The 2024 elections are expected to bring an end to two years of political instability in the region

• Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of the main opposition Waddani Party campaigned on a platform of democratic reforms and social cohesion, while Faisal Ali Warabe of the Justice and Welfare Party advocates for a national unity government

• In January this year, Somaliland signed an MoU with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed under which the country would lease land from Somaliland to build a naval base and Ethiopia would use the region’s Berbera port for international trade in return. Somaliland, furthermore, expects Ethiopia to consider its sovereignty

• The move, however, angered Somalia, which threatened to support armed groups in Ethiopia if it did not cease its activities to recognise Somaliland as an independent country

• This will be Somaliland’s fourth presidential election. The country’s delayed presidential elections raised concerns about the stability and consistency of its electoral process

• Hunger and inflation are one of the top challenges that a new government has to face in Somaliland. The region does not have direct access to global funding or humanitarian and development aid, as all such support must be routed through Mogadishu

With inputs from agencies