The International Crisis Group published on 11 December 2024 an analysis titled "Somaliland's Peaceful Handover Withstands Neighbourhood Strains" by Omar Mahmood.
Somaliland held presidential elections in mid-November, ending in victory for the opposition and a swift concession by the incumbent. While the peaceful transfer of power marked a welcome outcome, the run-up to the vote was far from smooth. Serious issues also remain involving neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.
The Pan African Review published on 21 November 2024 a commentary titled "What Somaliland's 2024 Elections Mean for the China-Taiwan Rivalry in the Horn" by Peter Kagwanja, Africa Policy Institute and former advisor to the government of Kenya.
Somaliland's drive for international recognition and its MOU with Ethiopia that traded Ethiopian diplomatic recognition for a military facility in Somaliland, contributed to the recent electoral defeat of President Muse Bihi Abdi and the Kulmiye party and the victory of opposition candidate Abdirahmin Mohamed Abdullahi and his Waddani party. President Abdi's close ties with Taiwan and Taipei's financial support for his reelection campaign added to the electoral backlash.
China has criticized the Somaliland-Taiwan relationship from the beginning and emphasized acceptance of the one China principle. In turn, it adopted a one Somalia policy and accused Taiwan of undermining Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The election of President Abdullahi in Somaliland tilts the balance of power in the Horn of Africa in favor of China. An added complication to this development is the predilection of the incoming Trump administration to favor diplomatic recognition of Somaliland.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 10 November 2022 a statement titled "Overcoming Somaliland's Worsening Political Crisis."
The ICG believes Somaliland's hard-earned stability is at risk. The government and political opposition disagree on the sequencing of two upcoming elections. The presidential election has been delayed and both it and the one to license the three political parties that will be allowed to participate are mired in schedule-related controversy.
The Voice of America published on 11 August 2022 an article titled "Protesters, Security Forces Clash in Somaliland; Three Reported Killed" by Mohamed Olad Hassan.
Clashes between supporters of opposition political parties Wadani and UCID, on the one hand, and security forces, on the other, in at least three Somaliland cities this week resulted in 3 deaths and 90 injuries. The protesters insisted that elections be held on schedule.
The Heinrich Boll Stiftung published on 27 June 2022 an analysis titled "Stress Test for Somaliland's Democracy" by Ulf Terlinden and Mohamed Ibrahim.
Differences over plans to reshuffle Somaliland's licensed political parties and the sequencing of elections raise questions over the electoral calendar.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 12 August 2021 an analysis titled "Building on Somaliland's Successful Elections."
Although long delayed, Somaliland held successful elections in May and August. The ICG argues, however, that there must be renewed efforts to include under-represented communities going forward.
