Voters in Somaliland went to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new president as leaders in the breakaway region believe international recognition may be within reach after more than three decades of self-rule. Somaliland, strategically positioned near the Red Sea, declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but has yet to secure official recognition, limiting access to international financing and restricting movement for its six million people.
The government in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, is pursuing diplomatic ties through a preliminary agreement with Ethiopia. Signed in January, the deal would offer Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coast in exchange for formal recognition. President Muse Bihi Abdi, who has held office since 2017, is seeking re-election against opposition candidate Abdirahman Cirro. While the two candidates diverge on local issues, both support the proposed Ethiopia agreement. Mohamed A. Mohamoud, Somaliland’s representative in Kenya, confirmed that the deal will move forward after the election, no matter the victor.
The proposed deal has complicated Somalia’s relationship with Ethiopia, traditionally a strong partner in peacekeeping efforts within Somalia. As tensions mount, Somalia has moved closer to Ethiopia’s rivals, Egypt and Eritrea.
Somaliland officials are also looking to the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, hoping he will revisit longstanding U.S. policy that recognizes Mogadishu’s sovereignty over Somaliland. Several former U.S. State Department officials have recently voiced support for Somaliland’s bid for independence.
