Somaliland, seeking recognition, elects its president

At dawn, the inhabitants of Somaliland, a self-proclaimed republic which seceded from Somalia, went out on Wednesday to elect their president, at a time when their quest for international recognition is shaking the Horn of Africa.

The 1.22 million voters must choose between outgoing President Muse Bihi, in power since 2017, the leader of the main opposition party (Waddani) Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, said “I go”and that of the Social Justice Party (UCID) Faysal Ali Warabe.

Beyond the result, “It’s a very important day”explains Hamza Moussa Ali, who arrived at 1:00 a.m. – five hours before the opening of the poll – at his polling station located on the main square of the capital Hargeisa, where a Somali fighter plane shot down during the bombing of the town by the Somali army in 1988.

“We need to show that the way we vote is a democratic process. We must show the world that Somaliland (…) can be recognized safely”explains this 32-year-old humanitarian worker.

Formerly British Somalia, this territory the size of Uruguay (175,000 km2) at the northwestern tip of Somalia unilaterally declared its independence in 1991, as the Somali Republic descended into chaos after the fall of military rule of the autocrat Siad Barre.

Somaliland has since functioned autonomously, with its own currency, army and police, and is distinguished by its relative stability compared to Somalia, undermined by the Islamist Shebab insurgency and chronic political conflicts.

But it is not recognized by any country, which keeps it in a certain political and economic isolation despite its location at the entrance to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, on one of the busiest trade routes in the world linking the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.

– “Eyes on us” –

His quest for recognition has for 10 months been at the heart of a deep diplomatic crisis between Somalia and Ethiopia, with whom the Somaliland government signed a controversial memorandum of understanding.

The text has never been made public but, according to the authorities in Hargeisa, it provides for the rental of 20 kilometers of coastline to Ethiopia, the largest landlocked state in the world, in exchange for formal recognition.

Denouncing a « violation » of its sovereignty, Somalia has since moved closer to Egypt, Ethiopia’s great rival, triggering a verbal and military escalation that worries the international community.

The text has not yet materialized but Somaliland President Muse Bihi, 76, assures that the long-awaited recognition is imminent.

“Our recognition is now on the table. The international community has its eyes on us”estimates Khadra, one of his 26-year-old supporters who only gives her first name, showing off her ink-stained pinky finger, proof of her vote.

“Many people criticize Muse Bihi, but he is the only one who moved the country forward”she judges, citing in particular progress for the army and in education.

Former diplomat versus former soldier

The two other candidates, including his main rival “I go”do not oppose the memorandum of understanding but blame the leader for dividing Somaliland.

Former diplomat (ambassador to the USSR and Finland) and president of the House of Representatives (2005-2017), aged 68, “I go” appears as a unifying figure compared to the strong personality of Muse Bihi, a former soldier.

He accuses the outgoing president in particular of having fueled clan divisions which led to the loss of part of the Sool region, in the south-east of the territory.

After months of violent fighting against a pro-Mogadishu militia which left at least 210 dead, Somaliland forces withdrew in August 2023 from half of this region.

Initially scheduled for 2022, the election was postponed for reasons “technical and financial reasons”. The opposition had denounced an extension of the president’s mandate. Demonstrations were violently repressed, leaving five people dead.