Ballots Over Bullets: How Somaliland built thriving democracy from ashes of war, defying Africa’s election odds
By Ahmed Abdi Abdulahi
Addis Abeba – When I was a kid, I thought democracy was unique to Greece and only Greeks would do better exercising. This was partially true since I didn’t grow up in a democratic culture. I was born and raised in Ethiopia, which has for many decades been a hostile environment for democracy. What I did not know at the time was that a new type of democracy was taking root in one of the world’s most dangerous and corrupt countries, our tiny neighbor, Somaliland.
Somaliland is yet to officially make the map of the world, but its recent success in free and fair elections is living proof that democracy can thrive everywhere, small or big, east or west. Somaliland is a self-declared, unrecognized, autonomous region in the northern part of Somalia.
It officially broke away from Somalia in 1991 after a brutal civil war. It’s worth remembering that Somalia and Somaliland unified as one country in June 1960 after a collective victory against the Italian colony in the south and British presence in the north. In a bid to centralize and consolidate his infant power in the south, Siyad Barre, who came to power in 1969 after a coup, left the southern regions underrepresented in a collectively formed government. The share of seats and resources dissatisfied northern clans, which ultimately led to the defection of northern representatives from the south.
As much of Africa’s power was swarmed by dictators, Siyad Barre’s vision was to create a unified Somalia under his rule. In 1990, the northern leaders announced that they had officially broken away from the south, a blow to Siyad Barre’s vision of building greater Somalia under his throne. In response to the shocking announcement of the northern leaders’ decision to decentralize his rule, Siyad Barre waged a devastating war against the north.
Months of relentless ground fighting and aerial assault left the region in complete devastation. Hargeisa, the capital of the northern regions, was leveled to the ground. In the following months, millions of people fled the region and sought refuge in the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Others risked their lives crossing the Mediterranean and desert in search of a better life, while millions suffered in the face of global media.
As shellings rained down on the capital and the region, insurgencies had begun to take root. In the north, a new frontier, mercenary soldiers led by some of the current and deceased Somaliland leaders began to mobilize people and resources to confront some of the attacks. And even though the newly formed junta was ill-equipped and had no resources to withstand any attacks, their determination to fight back was a sign of defense and hope for the people in the north. The liberation front was later joined by other clans in the region. The resistance was widening, and Somalia was facing both domestic and international pressure to halt the attacks.
International aid agencies warned that the war was pushing people in the region to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe. For nearly half a decade in the bush and all-out war, a collective and bloody struggle, northern region leaders have declared Somaliland’s divergence from the south on 18 May, 1991. This gave birth to the current Somaliland.
As Somalia entered a new era of civil unrest with the collapse of the central government, Somaliland’s breakaway decision saved them from war. In a country leveled to the ground, rebuilding from the ashes of destruction required both sacrifice and resources. Refugees who fled the country during the civil war began to return to the country, and those who made their way to Europe and America as refugees supported their loved ones at home. The region has gradually begun to rebuild while Somalia continues to defragment.
Somaliland’s Rise on Global Stage
Over thirty years since its birth, the Horn of Africa’s tiny nation had enjoyed peace while standing still and alone. Somaliland has held six free and fair elections with the presence of international observers, all of which were undisputed and peacefully transferred. Elections in most of Africa are a time of great worry and uncertainty, but Somaliland has proven that it’s the ballot that decides the future of their leaders.
Over thirty years since its birth, the Horn of Africa’s tiny nation had enjoyed peace while standing still and alone.
Somaliland has a port, Berbera, which is one of the main sources of revenue. The port is a major trade hub in the Horn of Africa. In recent years, several countries have expressed interest in leasing in the Red Sea maritime route. In 2017, the UAE signed a deal to use part of Berbera in a bid to modernize, a landmark deal for Somaliland. The deal included Ethiopia having 19% of the agreed shareholders. In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a controversial sea deal with Somaliland. The deal has triggered regional and international concern that the Red Sea was becoming a point of competition. Somalia has condemned the deal and called it “a violation of its sovereignty.” The feud between Ethiopia and Somalia created tension in the Horn of Africa.
In November 2024, Somalilanders went to the polls to elect a new leader for the 5th straight time. The region was dealing with a whole host of domestic and international problems. In the far eastern part of the region lies a politically contentious town of Las’anod. Las’anod was part of Somaliland but slipped out of the government’s control after Somaliland troops invaded the town in August 2023. The warriors in the region quickly reorganized themselves and pushed the government forces out of Las’anod in a bloody war that resulted in civilian casualties on both sides. This event marked the end of Somaliland’s rule in the eastern regions.
The economy is another rarely debated issue that influenced the outcome of the November election. In November, the Somaliland National Electoral Committee announced that the opposition leader had won the general presidential and party election by a big margin, a result that millions of Somalilanders were anxiously waiting for. The new leadership is expected to have major regional complications in the region as their power progresses.
The key takeaway from Somaliland elections is their unique type of democracy practice, the one for the people and by the people. Their show of democracy was seen by the international community. The Somaliland election was hailed by the international community. The US Ambassador to Somalia has visited Somaliland during the election days and observed several polling stations. With the presence of international observers, the election was concluded with the acceptance of both opposition and ruling parties.
From forming its own government currency and military to maintaining peace for such a long time to holding peaceful elections and fostering democratic cultures, Somaliland is appealing to the world more than statehood; it wants to be recognized as the 51st nation in Africa. As Somaliland embraces a path towards democracy, questions remain if its unique exercise of democracy will pave the way for international recognition. AS
Ahmed Abdi Abdulahi is a part-time blogger and communications officer at New Ways Organization, a local NGO based in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Crédito: Link de origem