Somaliland: An unrecognized state in search of legitimacyF

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– Election date: November 2024
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The unrecognized state of Somaliland, on the Horn of Africa, will hold presidential elections in November 2024. The previous election, in 2017, had been the first in the country to be commended for its transparency. But initially scheduled for September 2022, they were postponed by decision of the electoral commission for a period of two years due to lack of resources. As of now, it remains unclear if the elections will proceed as schedules.

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on a national level a (the ) and a . The president is elected by the people for a five-year term; there is an election extension that could also be added for two more years depending on national needs and approval. Somaliland held its first democratic election in 2003, after the president at that time died. There were also several other democratic elections in sequence. The second election was held on 26 June 2010, when the five-year term ended; there was an election extension, which was two more years. In 2017, there was a combination of presidential and parliamentary elections; the new president and parliament members were voted for at the same time.

The last democratic election was held in 2024, in which the current president of Somaliland was elected. In addition, There were only two parliamentary elections in Somaliland; the first parliamentary election was also held On September 25, 2005, in which 246 candidates participated from Six electoral Regions in Somaliland. The (Baarlamaanka) has . The ("Golaha Wakiillada") will have 82 members, elected for a five-year term. The (Golaha Guurtida) will have 82 members, representing traditional leaders.The second parliament election was held 2017.

Presidents and Vice Presidents of Somaliland (1991–2024)

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Presidents Vice Presidents Years
Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Hassan Isse Jama 1991-1993
Mohammed Hajji Ibraahin Egal Abdirahman Aw Ali Faarah/Daahir Riyaale Kaahin 1993-2002
Daahir Riyaal Kaahin Ahmed Yousuf Yaasin 2002-2010
Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Siilaanyo Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail Saylici 2010-2017
Muse Biihi Abdi Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail Saylici 2017-2024
Abdirahman Abdulahi Cirro Mohamed Aw Ali Abdi 2024-Present

Somaliland has a system, with numerous in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form .

Latest elections

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Presidential elections

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CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
407,90863.92
225,51935.34
Abdirashid Duale Diriye4,6990.74
Total638,126100.00
Valid votes638,12698.45
Invalid/blank votes10,0371.55
Total votes648,163100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,227,04852.82
Source: ,

Parliamentary elections

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
259,14437.2331New
257,02036.9230+2
179,93725.85210
Total696,101100.00820
Registered voters/turnout1,065,847
Source: ,

Municipal elections

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
268,81538.9993−6
260,84137.8379+11
159,80123.1848+8
Total689,457100.00220
Registered voters/turnout1,065,847
Source:

Past elections

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2017 presidential election

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CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
305,90955.10
226,09240.73
Abdi Ahmed Musa Abyan23,1414.17
Total555,142100.00
Valid votes555,14298.15
Invalid/blank votes10,4751.85
Total votes565,617100.00
Registered voters/turnout704,19880.32
Source:

2012 municipal elections

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PartyVotes%Seats
244,79530.1999
163,78920.2068
105,10512.9640
Umadda94,68911.6837
Rays83,59610.3132
Xaqsoor74,2049.1531
Dalsan44,6805.5116
Total810,858100.00323
Source:

2010 presidential election

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CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
266,90649.59
178,88133.23
Mohammad Rashid92,45917.18
Total538,246100.00
Total votes538,246
Registered voters/turnout1,069,91450.31
Source: ,

Elections were delayed several times, and were finally held on 26 June 2010.

2005 parliamentary election

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PartyVotes%Seats
261,44939.0033
228,32834.0628
180,54526.9321
Total670,322100.0082
Valid votes670,32299.32
Invalid/blank votes4,5850.68
Total votes674,907100.00
Source:

2003 presidential election

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CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
205,59542.08
205,51542.07
Mohammad Rashid77,43315.85
Total488,543100.00
Valid votes488,54397.98
Invalid/blank votes10,0962.02
Total votes498,639100.00
Source:

2002 municipal elections

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PartyVotes%
179,38940.76
83,15818.90
49,44411.24
47,94210.89
40,5389.21
39,5969.00
Total440,067100.00
Source:

2001 constitutional referendum

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ChoiceVotes%
For1,148,94097.10
Against34,3022.90
Total1,183,242100.00
Valid votes1,183,24299.61
Invalid/blank votes4,5910.39
Total votes1,187,833100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,188,74699.92
Source:
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National Electoral Commission. (2020). Somaliland elections. Africa Center for Strategic Studies. (2024, January 17). Somaliland: November 13, 2024 elections.