Somaliland, a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa, is preparing for a presidential election on Wednesday amidst rising diplomatic tensions in the region.
This breakaway territory, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has remained relatively stable compared to the rest of the country but has never received international recognition as a sovereign state. Despite its unrecognised status, Somaliland operates with its own currency, passports, and military.
The region has become embroiled in a diplomatic dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, especially following a controversial agreement signed in January.
Somaliland‘s president, Muse Bihi, leased a 20-kilometre stretch of its Red Sea coastline to Ethiopia in exchange for potential recognition from Addis Ababa.
However, the details of the deal have yet to be made public, and Ethiopia still needs to confirm the agreement. This move has sparked tensions between Somaliland and Somalia, with Somalia accusing Ethiopia of interfering in its territorial integrity, leading to verbal and military escalations.
Bihi, who has been in power since 2017, faces competition from two main opposition candidates: Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (known as “Irro”) of the Waddani party and Faysal Ali Warabe.
Bihi has pledged to continue pursuing the agreement with Ethiopia if re-elected, while his opponents have refrained from criticising the deal.
The election campaign has been marked by colourful rallies, but it has also been contentious, with critics accusing Bihi of fostering division within Somaliland.
They argue that his authoritarian style of governance has deepened clan divisions and led to the loss of the Sool region in 2023 after clashes with forces loyal to the Somali government in Mogadishu.
Bihi’s two-year delay of the 2022 election, citing “technical and financial reasons,” sparked protests, which the government violently suppressed.
Irro, Bihi’s main rival, has positioned himself as a unifying figure, promising to bring more cohesion to the region, though he has not outlined any major policy shifts.
At 68, Irro has a long political career, including serving as Somaliland’s parliamentary speaker and as an ambassador for Somalia to the Soviet Union and Finland.
The election comes at a critical time for Somaliland, as the diplomatic row with Somalia and Ethiopia continues to pose a potential risk of instability in the already volatile Horn of Africa.