# 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.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/government/kulmiye-party/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What is Kulmiye?

Kulmiye is one of the three national political parties of [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/). Its full name is *Xisbiga Kulmiye Nabad, Midnimo iyo Horumarka*, the Peace, Unity and Development Party. *Kulmiye* means "solidarity" or "the one that brings together" ([Wikipedia, Kulmiye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulmiye_Peace,_Unity,_and_Development_Party)). Its headquarters are in Hargeisa (same source).

Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo" founded the party on 12 May 2002, before the first local elections of December 2002 ([Kulmiye Party, Brief History, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulmiye_Peace,_Unity,_and_Development_Party)). Silanyo had chaired the Somali National Movement in the 1980s. See [Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo](/en/people/ahmed-mohamed-mohamoud-silanyo/).

## Who has led it?

- **Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo":** chair from 12 May 2002 to 31 December 2010. He was President of Somaliland from 27 July 2010 to 13 December 2017 ([Wikipedia, party chairmen table](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulmiye_Peace,_Unity,_and_Development_Party)).
- **Muse Bihi Abdi:** chair from 31 December 2010 to 21 August 2023. He was President from 13 December 2017 to 12 December 2024 (same source). See [Muse Bihi Abdi](/en/people/muse-bihi-abdi/).
- **Mohamed Kahin Ahmed:** chair from 21 August 2023. He was Minister of Interior from 2017 to 2024. The same party convention named Bihi again as its presidential candidate ([Horseed Media, 21 Aug 2023](https://horseedmedia.net/burco-xiabiga-kulmiye-oo-mar-kale-musharax-madaxweyne-u-doortey-biixi-381809)).
- **Speaker of the House:** Yasin Haji Mohamoud "Faratoon" of Kulmiye was elected Speaker in July 2023 ([Horn Diplomat, 23 Jul 2023](https://www.horndiplomat.com/2023/07/23/somaliland-parliament-elects-yasin-faratoon-as-new-speaker/)).

## Where does its support come from?

A 2017 opinion article in [Hiiraan Online](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/), titled "Political parties or clan parties?", wrote that Kulmiye drew most support from the Habar Jeclo and Habar [Awal](/en/society/habar-awal/), both Isaaq sub-clans ([Hiiraan Online, 1 Jan 2017](https://www.hiiraan.com/op4/2017/jan/139620/somaliland_political_parties_or_clan_parties.aspx)). Africa Elects places the party in the centre ([Africa Elects, Somaliland](https://africaelects.com/somaliland/)). The party was listed as an observer of the Africa Liberal Network (same source).

## How has Kulmiye done in elections?

**President**
- **14 April 2003:** Silanyo won 205,515 votes, 42.07 percent. [Dahir Riyale Kahin](/en/people/dahir-riyale-kahin/) of UDUB won with 42.08 percent, a gap of about 80 votes ([Wikipedia, Elections in Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Somaliland)).
- **26 June 2010:** Silanyo won with 266,906 votes, 49.59 percent, ahead of Riyale's 33.23 percent (same source).
- **13 November 2017:** Muse Bihi Abdi won with 305,909 votes, 55.10 percent ([Somaliland NEC, final results, archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180516215507/http://www.slnec.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Final-PollingStation-Results.pdf)).
- **13 November 2024:** Bihi won 225,519 votes, 34.81 percent, and lost to Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi "Irro" of Waddani. Bihi conceded ([Scott Pegg, University of Tartu, 9 Dec 2024](https://defactostates.ut.ee/the-system-worked-somalilands-2024-presidential-and-political-party-elections/)).

**Parliament**
- **29 September 2005:** 228,328 votes, 34.06 percent, 28 of 82 seats, second place ([Wikipedia, Kulmiye election tables](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulmiye_Peace,_Unity,_and_Development_Party)).
- **31 May 2021:** 257,020 votes, 36.92 percent, 30 of 82 seats. Waddani and UCID then formed a 52-seat coalition ([AFP via VOA, 10 Jun 2021](https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_somaliland-opposition-joins-forces-grab-control-parliament/6206719.html)).

**Local councils**
- **2002:** 83,158 votes, 18.90 percent, 71 of 379 seats ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulmiye_Peace,_Unity,_and_Development_Party)).
- **2012:** 99 of 323 seats, first place ([Wikipedia, Elections in Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Somaliland)).
- **2021:** 93 of 220 seats, first place (same source).

**Party status**
- **13 November 2024:** 108,100 votes, third of ten. Waddani, Kaah and Kulmiye hold national party status for ten years ([Somaliland NEC, interim results](https://slnec.net/news/somaliland-national-electoral-commission-releases-interim-results-of-the-november-13-double-election)).

## Related pages

- [Elections in Somaliland](/en/institutions/elections-in-somaliland/)
- [Waddani](/en/government/waddani-party/)
- [Kaah](/en/government/kaah-party/)
- [UCID, the Justice and Welfare Party](/en/government/ucid-justice-and-welfare-party/)
- [The 2017 Somaliland presidential election](/en/history/somaliland-presidential-election-2017/)
- [The 2010 Somaliland presidential election](/en/history/somaliland-presidential-election-2010/)

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