The 2024 Somaliland presidential election

In short

On 13 November 2024 Somaliland voted in two elections at once: for President, and for the three parties allowed to stand in national elections for the next ten years. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi "Irro" of Waddani won the presidency with 63.92 percent. The sitting President, Muse Bihi Abdi of Kulmiye, had 34.81 percent (Somaliland National Electoral Commission, interim results).

A study by the University of Tartu's De Facto States Research Unit wrote that Bihi "quickly and graciously conceded defeat", and that Irro would take office on 13 December 2024 (Scott Pegg, University of Tartu, 9 December 2024).

For how Somaliland's elections work, see elections in Somaliland. For the previous vote, see the 2017 Somaliland presidential election.

The crisis of 2022

• The dispute. Bihi's term was due to end in 2022. The government and the opposition disagreed over whether the party election or the presidential election should come first (Pegg, 2024).
• 11 August 2022. Protests took place in several towns. The UN reported that "5 male civilians were killed and 86 were injured", and that "332 persons were arrested, almost all of whom have been released" (UN Security Council, S/2022/665, para. 55). Pegg names Hargeisa, Burao and Erigavo.
• The postponement. The electoral commission said the date of 13 November 2022 "was not viable due to time, technical and financial constraints" and moved the vote to July 2023 (The New Arab, 1 October 2022).
• 1 October 2022. The House of Elders (Guurti) voted 72 to 1, with one abstention, to extend the President's term by two years. The member who voted against, Omar Nur, told the Associated Press: "I don't want to see our country plunging into chaos" (same source).
• The opposition. At a press conference in Hargeisa, Irro called the extension unconstitutional and said the opposition "would no longer recognize Bihi as President when his term ends" on 13 November 2022 (Somali Guardian, 2 October 2022).

For the conflict in Las Anod from 2023, see the North Eastern State.

The vote, 13 November 2024

From Pegg's study, citing the electoral commission (University of Tartu):

• Voters. 1,227,048 people were registered, up from 1,065,847 in 2021.
• Where there was no vote. Polls were not held in four districts: Buhodle in Togdheer, and Hudun, Las Anod and Taleh in Sool. Polling stations fell from 2,709 in 2021 to 2,637.
• Turnout. About 55 percent in the presidential vote and about 53 percent in the party vote.

The presidential result as published by the commission (NEC):

The commission gave 638,126 valid votes and 9,528 invalid. VOA reported that the result was announced on Tuesday, 19 November 2024 (VOA, 19 November 2024).

The party election

Ten parties and associations stood. Waddani (216,284 votes), Kaah (131,507) and Kulmiye (108,100) won national party status for ten years. Horseed (87,218), Hilaac (59,569), Barwaaqo (16,852), UCID (10,105), Talowadaag (6,080), Rejo (2,083) and Shacabka (2,014) did not (NEC). UCID lost its place as a national party. For the table, see elections in Somaliland.

What observers said

• The international mission. Its preliminary statement said the vote took place in a "mostly calm and peaceful environment where registered voters were able to exercise their right to vote during the day". It noted procedural and administrative inconsistencies and recommended more voter training and more frequent updates of the register (VOA). Pegg adds that it flagged likely underage voters, poor access for disabled voters and weak secrecy of the vote.
• The Brenthurst Foundation. Its mission called the election "free, fair and credible" (as quoted by Pegg).

Who suffered?

• Protesters in August 2022: five men killed, 86 injured and 332 arrested, by the UN's count (S/2022/665).
• People in four districts of Sool and Togdheer, where no polls were held (Pegg, 2024).

Sources differ

• The 2022 extension. The House of Elders voted it by 72 to 1. Waddani rejected it and said it would not recognise Bihi after November 2022.
• The commission's figures. The NEC's interim page gives a presidential turnout of 674,863, while its valid and invalid votes add up to 647,654. Its party totals give 630,812 valid votes, while the party votes listed add up to 639,812. The shares it gives for the three candidates add up to 99.47 percent.
• Turnout. Pegg gives about 55 percent for the presidential vote. The NEC gives 53 percent for the party vote.

Read the primary sources yourself

• Somaliland National Electoral Commission, interim results of the 13 November election: page.
• Scott Pegg, "The system worked: Somaliland's 2024 presidential and political party elections", University of Tartu, 9 December 2024: article.
• UN Secretary-General, report on Somalia, S/2022/665 (1 September 2022): PDF.
• VOA, "Opposition leader wins Somaliland presidential contest", 19 November 2024: article.
• The New Arab, report on the House of Elders' vote to extend the President's term, 1 October 2022: article.