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The 2021 Somaliland parliamentary and local elections
On 31 May 2021 Somaliland held joint elections for its 82-seat House of Representatives and for local councils, the first parliamentary vote since 2005. Turnout was 65 percent of about 1.07 million registered voters. Waddani won 31 seats, the ruling Kulmiye 30 and UCID 21, and the two opposition parties formed a coalition with a majority of 52. None of the 13 women who stood for parliament was elected. Observers reported minor problems and cases of underage voting but nothing that indicated fraud.
In short
"On 31 May, 'Somaliland' held long-delayed joint parliamentary and local council elections. Sixty-five per cent of registered voters cast their votes to elect 82 members of the House of Representatives and councillors for 21 districts," the UN Secretary-General reported. On 5 June the results were announced, "with the opposition winning 52 of the 82 parliamentary seats" (UN Security Council, S/2021/723, para. 9).
It was the first parliamentary election since 2005 (Al Jazeera, 6 June 2021). See the 2005 election and elections in Somaliland.
Before the vote
From Scott Pegg and Michael Walls, who observed the vote, writing for the University of Tartu (De Facto States Research Unit, 13 June 2021):
- The delay. The House of Representatives elected in 2005 had served 11 years beyond its five-year mandate.
- The size. About 1.065 million registered voters, 2,709 polling stations and more than 30,000 poll workers. It was the first time the two polls were held together.
- Candidates. 798 in all: 552 for 220 council seats and 246 for 82 parliamentary seats. "Only 28 (3.5%) were women", down from 5.91 percent in 2012.
- The register. The iris-scan voter register was "highly effective" in stopping multiple voting, which had been a serious problem in 2012. See the 2017 presidential election.
The result
House of Representatives, as reported by Al Jazeera (Al Jazeera):
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Waddani (Somaliland National Party) | 31 |
| Kulmiye (Peace, Unity and Development Party) | 30 |
| UCID (Justice and Welfare Party) | 21 |
| Total | 82 |
- The coalition. Waddani and UCID announced "a political alliance to get the speaker of the Somaliland parliament" (Al Jazeera).
- Councils. The two opposition parties "won mayoral positions in five of the seven major towns, including the capital, Hargeysa" (S/2021/723, para. 9).
- Women and minorities. "No woman was elected to Parliament, but a minority clan candidate was elected to the House of Representatives and a woman as a mayor" (same source). Al Jazeera reported that "none of the 13 women who ran for parliament won their races".
What observers said
- Pegg and Walls. Walls was chief observer of the Limited International Election Observation Mission; the two wrote in a personal capacity. They saw minor problems at the 25 polling stations they visited, "nothing that indicated fraud or malfeasance", and "several cases of underage voting". Somaliland has no birth registry to check ages (Tartu).
- The Brenthurst Foundation sent a separate mission, which visited polling stations in five centres covering "more than 70% of the voting population" (Brenthurst Foundation).
What followed
- The presidential vote. Due in 2022, it was delayed to November 2024. See the 2024 Somaliland presidential election.
- The next parliament. In April 2026 the House of Elders extended the terms of the House of Representatives and local councils to October 2028 (Dawan Africa, April 2026).
Who suffered?
- Women candidates, none of whom won a parliamentary seat (S/2021/723; Al Jazeera).
- Voters, who had waited 16 years for a new House of Representatives (Al Jazeera).
Sources differ
- Turnout. The UN gives 65 percent of registered voters. The observers' blog gives no turnout figure.
- Women candidates. Al Jazeera counts 13 women standing for parliament. Pegg and Walls count 28 women among all 798 candidates for parliament and councils.
Read the primary sources yourself
- UN Secretary-General, report on Somalia, S/2021/723 (10 August 2021), para. 9: PDF.
- Scott Pegg and Michael Walls, "Observing Somaliland's 2021 parliamentary and local council elections", University of Tartu, 13 June 2021: article.
- Al Jazeera, "Somaliland opposition wins first parliamentary polls since 2005", 6 June 2021: article.
Sources
- UN Security Council, S/2021/723, para. 9 · documents.un.org
- Al Jazeera, 6 June 2021 · aljazeera.com
- De Facto States Research Unit, 13 June 2021 · defactostates.ut.ee
- Brenthurst Foundation · thebrenthurstfoundation.org
- Dawan Africa, April 2026 · dawan.africa
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Where it happened
- Boorama (Borama) and AwdalAwdal is the far north-west region, on the borders with Djibouti and Ethiopia, with Borama (Boorama) as its capital and about 300,000 to 636,000 people.
- 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.
- Laascaanood (Las Anod) and SoolSool is a region in the north with Las Anod (Laascaanood) as its capital and about 571,000 people.
- Ceerigaabo (Erigavo) and SanaagSanaag is a region on the northern coast with Erigavo (Ceerigaabo) as its capital and about 446,000 people.
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
- The 2012 Somali presidential electionThe 2012 presidential election: the end of the transition, the 275 MPs chosen by elders, the vote of 10 September, bribery claims, and the new government.
- The 2016 Somali parliamentary electionSomalia's 2016 indirect parliamentary election: the elders and electoral colleges, the new Upper House, the 4.5 formula, malpractice and re-runs, women's seats, and the result.
- The 2017 Somali presidential electionThe 2016–2017 election: delegates and the new two-house Parliament, the vote of 8 February 2017 at the airport, Farmaajo's win, bribery claims and the cost.
- The 2017 Somaliland presidential electionSomaliland's 2017 presidential vote: the delays, the iris-scan register, the three candidates, results, the social media ban, the Burao shootings and the dispute.
- The war in Somalia, 2009 to nowThe war since 2009: al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam against the government and AU troops, the 2011 Mogadishu withdrawal and famine, Kismayo, the 2022 offensive and 2025.
- The 2022 Somali presidential electionThe 2021–2022 election: the expired term, the April 2021 extension and fighting, the delegate vote, the three rounds of 15 May 2022 and the result.