Somaliland’s newly-sworn president to face complex internal, external challenges

Somaliland, Somalia’s self-declared independent region, has inaugurated its new president after last month’s election, which strengthened its push for international recognition.
Somaliland sworn in its sixth president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, on Thursday (12 December), only a day after Somalia and Ethiopia agreed in Turkey to hold “technical talks” over a dispute sparked by Addis Ababa’s deal with the breakaway region. Setting the record straight during his inaugural speech, Abdullahi stated that his “new government’s first job is to renew its relations with the rest of the world in order for us to be able to create a new Somaliland that will help the security of the entire region, including the Red Sea.” The 69-year-old from the opposition Waddani Party, won over 50% of the votes, defeating the incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi of the Kulmiye Party.
The election, whose peaceful nature and the significant voter turnout was hailed as evidence of Somaliland’s democratic strength, is widely seen as giving a boost for the region’s drive for international recognition, as evidenced by Abdullahi’s pledge to strengthen its foreign policy while advancing Somaliland’s case for recognition as an independent state. Somaliland seceded from Somalia more than three decades ago, yet it remains unrecognized by the United Nations, the African Union, or any other nation as a sovereign state. Abdullahi’s administration is now tasked with tackling the complex internal and external challenges, including the clashes in Somaliland’s Sool region, and the pursuit of international recognition, alongside a reassessment of its regional agreements, notably with Ethiopia.