Political parties and movements
Kulmiye (Peace, Unity and Development Party)
Kulmiye is a political party in Somaliland, founded on 12 May 2002 by Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud 'Silanyo'. It held the presidency from 2010 to 2024, under Silanyo and then Muse Bihi Abdi. In the 2024 party contest it came third with 108,100 votes, which keeps it as one of Somaliland's three national parties for ten years.
What is Kulmiye?
Kulmiye is one of the three national political parties of Somaliland. 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). 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). Silanyo had chaired the Somali National Movement in the 1980s. See 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).
- 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.
- 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).
- Speaker of the House: Yasin Haji Mohamoud "Faratoon" of Kulmiye was elected Speaker in July 2023 (Horn Diplomat, 23 Jul 2023).
Where does its support come from?
A 2017 opinion article in Hiiraan Online, titled "Political parties or clan parties?", wrote that Kulmiye drew most support from the Habar Jeclo and Habar Awal, both Isaaq sub-clans (Hiiraan Online, 1 Jan 2017). Africa Elects places the party in the centre (Africa Elects, 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 of UDUB won with 42.08 percent, a gap of about 80 votes (Wikipedia, 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).
- 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).
Parliament
- 29 September 2005: 228,328 votes, 34.06 percent, 28 of 82 seats, second place (Wikipedia, Kulmiye election tables).
- 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).
Local councils
- 2002: 83,158 votes, 18.90 percent, 71 of 379 seats (Wikipedia).
- 2012: 99 of 323 seats, first place (Wikipedia, 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).
Related pages
Sources
- Wikipedia, Kulmiye · en.wikipedia.org
- Horseed Media, 21 Aug 2023 · horseedmedia.net
- Horn Diplomat, 23 Jul 2023 · horndiplomat.com
- Hiiraan Online, 1 Jan 2017 · hiiraan.com
- Africa Elects, Somaliland · africaelects.com
- Wikipedia, Elections in Somaliland · en.wikipedia.org
- Somaliland NEC, final results, archived · web.archive.org
- Scott Pegg, University of Tartu, 9 Dec 2024 · defactostates.ut.ee
- AFP via VOA, 10 Jun 2021 · voanews.com
- Somaliland NEC, interim results · slnec.net
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Kulmiye (Peace, Unity and Development Party)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Where this matters
- Hargeysa (Hargeisa) and Woqooyi GalbeedWoqooyi Galbeed is the north-western region that holds Hargeisa (Hargeysa) and the port of Berbera, with about 1 to 1.45 million people.
- Burco (Burao) and TogdheerTogdheer is the northern region around Burco (Burao), with about 894,874 people including Buuhoodle.
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.
- 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.
- Kaah (Kaah Alliance for Equality and Development)Kaah, Somaliland's newest national party: founding in 2022, its leader Mohamoud Hashi Abdi, the 2024 party contest, its alliance with Waddani and its positions since.
- 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.