Five Areas That Will Challenge The Newly Elected President of Somaliland

In the recent elections for the President of Somaliland, it has been determined that Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi Cirro will assume this prominent position. He is very significant for the democracy as well as the politics of the region. He is a veteran politician and a statesman who believes in the cause of modernism, and therefore his ascendance to such an office can only be seen as an example of the people of Somaliland’s commitment to the peaceful transfer of power.

A common trait in Dr. Cirro’s leadership roles has been emphasis on togetherness, inclusivity, and being developmental oriented towards the needs of Somaliland. His tenure is expected to tackle the pressing issues of the day which include economic advancement, international recognition and social change. Some of the expectations on his shoulders stem from the fact that his election marks the beginning of a new history in Somaliland, where he will be able to gain citizens’ trust to lead towards national development and recognition expansion.

Dr.Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi Cirro, Somaliland's New President

Somaliland fastened its newly elected president, and unfortunately, the leader is confronted with numerous demands that may profoundly affect the politics of this self-identified republic. Despite existing outside international legal boundaries, Somaliland has successfully projected itself as a relatively peaceful region within the Horn of Africa. Nevertheless, the presidential office has its limitations which if not worked on, progress will not be made and challenges will remain. These are five challenges which the new president of Somaliland will have to tackle:

1. Gaining International Acceptance

Somaliland has been independent since 1991 when the Republic of Somalia collapsed, but unfortunately is yet to be declared a country by the international community. Such situations lead to limitations in seeking international help, signing trade deals or partnership agreements.

The new president will have to strategize on how to mix diplomacy and advocacy when it comes to the powerful regional and global countries that they want to help, given the resistance by the African Union, United Nations, and her neighbors. It will also be important in the global arena to develop deep bilateral relations and to make use of Somaliland's history of peace and democracy.

2. Responding To the Underlying Economic Problems

The economy of Somaliland is primarily dependent on remittances from the diaspora and also on livestock export, particularly to the gulf countries. Even with these, it is still at the mercy of external factors like trade restrictions, drought conditions, and price volatility of commodities.

The new administration, in its fight for economic independence, must seek to improve the economic structure by venturing into other areas such as infrastructure development, information communication technology, and even commercial farming. This is also particularly important in dealing with the social ills associated with high populations of the youth which is unemployment and outflow of the country’s educated human resources.

3. Understanding the Politics of Clan Systems

As noted previously, clans have been an integral aspect of Somaliland’s politics. The existing clan power-sharing structure has aided in maintaining peace but at times hinders decision making and appropriate governance.

The president will also have to work hard in these areas as promoting inclusiveness may antagonize some segments of the society. This could also curtail the effects of clannism on politics in Somaliland through the building of structures and institutionalization of issue based politics.

4. Ensuring Security and Control over Regional Factions

The region is dealing with multi-faceted security risks posed by armed groups, border-related conflicts with Somalia, and inter-communal clashes such as the one in Las’Anod. The societal equilibrium is thus a matter of finding a right mix of how ready the forces get into a conflict and how ready the forces are to engage in dialogue and reconciliation.

The newly elected leader shall also be responsible for the integrity of boundaries of Somaliland, which is a welcome expectation as this also does not seek to provoke Somalia or any other neighboring region. For sustainable peace, one must militarily build local security while constructing local institutions to deal with issues that create the anger.

5. Addressing Corrupt Practices and Improving Governance

The threat of corruption and poor governance is poised to sap the confidence of the citizens of Somaliland as well as hinder the economic growth of the territory. The fresh president of the country should ensure that efficiency with the use of resources is guaranteed through the implementation of transparency and accountability policies as well as measures against corruption.

Changes in public sector institutions, the transition of processes to an e-government platform, and the strengthening of pressure on functionaries by the public may restore confidence in the system. There will be no point talking about infrastructure, health, education improvement without fighting corruption.

 Finally: 

The new president of Somaliland has many opportunities and challenges at hand. Though the relative stability of the country provides a strong backbone, solving these issues will take great leadership, inclusive policies and good governance.

The path towards acceptance, economic advancement and peace will not be smooth, but with focused resolve, the president can turn the tides in favor of Somaliland and its citizens.

 

Author

Wiyeer

Hargeisa