Political parties and movements
Kaah (Kaah Alliance for Equality and Development)
Kaah is a political party in Somaliland, founded in July 2022 by Mohamoud Hashi Abdi as a political association. On 13 November 2024 it came second of ten in the contest for national party status, with 131,507 votes, and replaced UCID as one of Somaliland's three national parties. It backed Waddani's Abdirahman Irro for president in 2024, and by 2026 it was criticising the Waddani government's foreign policy.
What is Kaah?
Kaah is one of the three national political parties of Somaliland. Its full Somali name is Isbahaysiga Sinnaanta iyo Horumarka Kaah, the Kaah Alliance for Equality and Development (Wikipedia, Kaah Alliance). Kaah means "dawn" or "first light". Its headquarters are in Hargeisa.
It is not the same as the money transfer company Kaah Express.
Who founded it?
Mohamoud Hashi Abdi founded Kaah as a political association on 21 July 2022 in Hargeisa (Horn Diplomat, 21 Jul 2022). He had served as Minister of the Presidency under President Muse Bihi Abdi, of the Kulmiye party (Somaliland Standard). Wikipedia records Kaah as a split from Kulmiye (Wikipedia).
Horn Diplomat reported a large turnout at Kaah's rallies as it campaigned for party status (Horn Diplomat).
How did Kaah become a national party?
Somaliland's constitution allows only three national parties. Every ten years, parties and new associations compete for the three places in a public vote (University of Tartu, De Facto States Research Unit, 9 Dec 2024).
On 13 November 2024, ten parties and associations stood. The National Electoral Commission's interim results were (Somaliland NEC):
- Waddani: 216,284 votes
- Kaah: 131,507 votes
- Kulmiye: 108,100 votes
- Horseed: 87,218
- Hilaac: 59,569
- Barwaaqo: 16,852
- UCID: 10,105
- Talowadaag: 6,080
- Rejo: 2,083
- Shacabka: 2,014
The top three hold national party status for ten years (same source). Kaah's place was formally confirmed on 9 January 2025 (Wikipedia). It replaced UCID, the oldest party.
Its 2024 alliance with Waddani
Kaah did not field a presidential candidate in 2024. It signed a pre-election agreement with Waddani. Mohamoud Hashi Abdi signed it with Waddani's candidate, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi "Irro", and Waddani's chair, Hersi Ali Haji Hassan (Somaliland Chronicle, 5 Aug 2024). Irro won the presidency with 63.92 percent (University of Tartu, 2024).
What has Kaah said since 2025?
- Eastern Sool, October 2025: Kaah warned of rising tension and outside interference in eastern Sool (AllAfrica, 1 Oct 2025).
- Foreign policy, July 2026: Mohamoud Hashi Abdi accused the Waddani government of a foreign policy of "insults and public condemnation" toward countries including Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. He called Djibouti "a brotherly country" to engage by dialogue (Dawan Africa, 2 Jul 2026).
- Recognition: in the same speech he said, "We believe the recognition we received is not full recognition." He argued full recognition needs UN member states and a seat in international bodies (same source). Israel recognised Somaliland on 26 December 2025.
- Embassy in Jerusalem: Kaah opposed the government's plan to open an embassy in Jerusalem (same source).
Related pages
Sources
- Wikipedia, Kaah Alliance · en.wikipedia.org
- Horn Diplomat, 21 Jul 2022 · horndiplomat.com
- Somaliland Standard · somalilandstandard.com
- Horn Diplomat · horndiplomat.com
- University of Tartu, De Facto States Research Unit, 9 Dec 2024 · defactostates.ut.ee
- Somaliland NEC · slnec.net
- Somaliland Chronicle, 5 Aug 2024 · somalilandchronicle.com
- AllAfrica, 1 Oct 2025 · allafrica.com
- Dawan Africa, 2 Jul 2026 · dawan.africa
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Kaah (Kaah Alliance for Equality and Development)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Where this matters
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Political parties laws of Somalia, 2016 and 2024Somalia's federal laws on political parties: the 2016 Political Parties Law, the 2024 law passed with the new election laws, the debate over limits on the number of parties, and party registration for the 2027 elections.
- Waddani (Somaliland National Party)Waddani, the Somaliland National Party: founding in 2012, leaders, every election result from 2012 to 2024, and its place among the three national parties.
- Kulmiye (Peace, Unity and Development Party)Kulmiye, Somaliland's Peace, Unity and Development Party: its founding in 2002, chairs, two presidents, and every election result from 2002 to 2024.
- UCID (Justice and Welfare Party)UCID, Somaliland's Justice and Welfare Party (2001 to 2024): founder Faysal Ali Warabe, its social-democratic programme, every election result, and how it lost party status.
- Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP)Somalia's Justice and Solidarity Party: its launch in May 2025, leaders, membership figures, results in the 2025 and 2026 votes, and the criticism it has faced.
- Tayo Political PartyTayo, Farmaajo's party: its founding in 2012, its years in power from 2017 to 2022, its leaders, presidential results and its place in the opposition.