Somali/land

"True stability emerges when dialogue opens doors, inclusion shapes decisions and trust bridges divides. In Somali/land, this vision brings us closer to a future where all groups can see themselves reflected in their democracy."

Abdijalil Tahir, NIMD Somali/land Director

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NIMD in Somaliland: At a glance
Qué hacemos
Cómo lo hacemos
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Main Objective

Supporting stability by helping key democratic institutions develop political and electoral processes that are inclusive, transparent and peaceful.

Resultados

NIMD Somali/land holds regular training sessions for electoral management bodies, the key institutions responsible for overseeing and administering electoral processes. We provide tools and knowledge needed to lead electoral processes in an inclusive, transparent and accountable way. By enhancing trust in politics and elections, these institutions have the power to contribute to a key foundation on which a peaceful and stable society can be built.

When the people of Somaliland see themselves better reflected in the structures that represent them, then we can be sure of a more stable society based on trust. That’s why we are working with civil society and electoral management bodies to advocate for a women’s quota in Parliament. Since Somaliland currently has no women MPs, such a quota would represent a step towards ensuring a tangible voice and representation for 50% of the voting population.

In November 2023, we ran a 10-day “gender and elections” course for women leaders from Somaliland’s political parties and associations. This training imparted knowledge and skills on how to campaign and navigate barriers to entering politics. It was followed by an exchange visit to Kenya, where the leaders expanded their networks, shared ideas and learned how Kenyan institutions support women’s political participation. Thanks to their participation, these leaders have enhanced the skills and tools they would need to run successful campaigns in future elections.

Somaliland: Political background

In 2021, Somaliland held its first parliamentary elections in over 15 years, a significant step in its democratic journey.

However, these elections were marked by unrest and heightened tensions. Their postponement had fuelled frustrations, particularly among certain clans and political factions, which had already felt marginalized from politics. These tensions manifested in disputes over electoral processes, accusations of political favouritism and concerns about fair representation.

The presidential elections of 2024 showed much progress, with the elections considered genuine, credible and largely peaceful. But, with parliamentary elections now scheduled for 2026, the political climate remains strained. There is a risk that unresolved grievances and existing political tensions could escalate into violent conflict.

Despite these challenges, there have been some positive developments. The peaceful transfer of power after the 2021 parliamentary elections demonstrated the resilience of Somaliland’s democratic institutions, and there are ongoing efforts to build trust among the different clans and political actors. However, the path ahead remains uncertain, and managing these tensions will be key to ensuring peaceful and inclusive presidential elections in 2026.

Qué hacemos

NIMD set up its programme in Somaliland in 2022, in the wake of tensions following the 2021 elections.

Our core objective in Somaliland is to promote stability in the run up to the 2026 elections. We do so by reducing conflict and supporting reconciliation among the different political groups and Somaliland’s people.

Our work is centred around the belief that long-term stability relies on trust in the political system among the general population. People are more likely to trust political systems that genuinely represent them and effectively meet their needs. That’s why NIMD works with parliament, political parties, electoral bodies and civil society to ensure that Somaliland’s political institutions are both inclusive and responsive. By fostering the representation of all groups in society and supporting institutions to serve the public effectively, we aim to build a political system that earns the trust of the population and contributes to lasting stability.

We also recognize that stability requires trust and collaboration within politics itself. That’s why dialogue remains at the heart of our work in Somaliland. We bring together political parties across the political spectrum. By encouraging ongoing discussion on critical issues, we aim to reduce tension and contestation, contributing to a more peaceful and democratic process in Somaliland and building a culture of cooperation among politicians.

Long-term stability relies on trust in the political system among the general population.

Lo que hacemos: En cifras

Number of institutions supported

Number of journalists trained on reporting around elections

Democracy School alumni

Cómo lo hacemos

Política responsable

NIMD Somali/land works closely with the House of Representatives in Somaliland to help it become more responsive to the people’s needs. Together, we focus on improving internal democracy, oversight and accountability within the institution.

Our support ranges from practical help – like streamlining parliamentary processes through the digitization of archives – to offering structural advice and training. For instance, we’ve worked to expand the mandate of parliamentary committees to improve government accountability and transparency.

Indeed, accountability is central in our work to strengthen the responsiveness of Parliament. We also support civil society organizations as they monitor parliamentary performance and share this information with the public.

By equipping the people with the tools and information they need to understand and engage with their democracy, we hope to foster greater trust, participation and accountability between people and their political representatives.

Beyond Parliament, we assist other institutions to ensure they effectively and transparently respond to the needs of the people. With political parties, we focus on bridging the gap with voters. For example, we help them develop long-term plans to enhance their responsiveness, draft manifestos, and develop clear and realistic policy positions. This helps voters understand what parties stand for, offering a genuine choice – and therefore reducing identity politics and polarization – at election time.

Our work with electoral management bodies also contributes to trust-building and stability. We provide long-term training and assistance that helps EMBs think strategically and act effectively, taking up their crucial role of implementing inclusive and representative electoral legislation.

"We hope to foster greater trust, participation and accountability between people and their political representatives."

Diálogo

Dialogue has deep roots in Somaliland’s culture and tradition. An old Somali proverb Aan wadahadalno waa aan heshiino (let us talk, let us reconcile our differences) illustrates this long-standing tradition of bringing people together across clan, religious and political divides.

And this process is exactly what we aim to facilitate as NIMD. Time and again, across our programmes, we’ve seen that when different political groups come together in dialogue, societies are more likely to achieve peace and stability.

In Somaliland, our political party dialogue platform brings parties together regularly to build trust and respect across political and ideological lines. The parties work together on specific issues, from Somaliland’s economic agenda to the institutional changes required for adopting a regional taxation system.

By providing a safe space for diverse perspectives to be shared, our platform fosters consensus, collaboration and trust. We encourage the parties to promote cooperation over confrontation, making their first steps towards reducing tensions and preventing violence.

At NIMD, we also recognize that trust in politics must go beyond political parties. So we hold regular multi-stakeholder dialogue meetings between political actors, clan elders and civil society representatives. These meetings provide a unique opportunity for political and civic leaders to discuss key issues in their community, and to lay the path towards implementing change together.

"Dialogue fosters consensus, collaboration and trust."

Las mujeres en la política

In the 2021 elections, no women were elected to Somaliland’s Parliament, despite many efforts and regulations. The issues and interests of Somaliland’s society as a whole are not reflected in parliament because more than half of the population is essentially absent from political decision-making.

That’s why NIMD is actively working to pave the way for a more inclusive and representative political landscape.

This focus is central to our work with political parties, Parliament and electoral management bodies. For example, through our training programmes, we help political parties to carry out self-assessment. They then use this to develop gender action plans ensuring lasting changes that make their parties more inclusive and representative.

And – together with electoral management bodies and Parliament – we’re also working on legislative changes to level the playing field in Somaliland. But we know that legislative change alone is not enough; women must feel empowered to take up their rightful role in politics. That’s why we offer training programmes tailored to women in politics, providing them with the tools and knowledge to overcome the barriers they face.

With more women at the table, Somaliland’s political landscape will be enriched by a wider range of perspectives and voices. And the people of Somaliland will see themselves better reflected in the structures that represent them.

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Abdijalil Tahir

Director, NIMD Somaliland

Seguir leyendo

Abdijalil Tahir joined NIMD in December 2022 as the Director for NIMD Somali/land, overseeing the European Union-funded program “Strengthening of Political Parties in Somaliland”. Prior to joining NIMD, he was Programme Manager at the International Republican Institute (IRI), where he oversaw the strengthening of Somaliland’s parliament and civil society programme. Abdijalil also worked with Saferworld Somalia/land for almost seven years, overseeing the EU and Danida-funded governance, peacebuilding, and election programme. Abdijalil has seventeen years of experience working with international and local organizations focusing on governance, election observation, political party capacity building and peacebuilding programmes.