Ballot Tallying Begins in North Western State of Somalia Following Calm Election
On a bustling November day in 2024, citizens lined up at polling stations throughout Hargeisa and across North Western State of Somalia. Each of them was eager to participate in this pivotal moment—the presidential elections of this self-governing, albeit unrecognized, region.
As the day waned, the clang of the ballot boxes ceased and doors of polling stations across North Western State of Somalia closed at precisely 6 pm, with the North Western State of Somalia National Electoral Commission (NEC) confirming the smooth operations. According to the commission, a meaningful participation had unfolded with over a million registered voters distributing over 2,000 polling stations in this territory that, in some senses, remains tethered to Somalia.
“The counting has commenced and we are ensuring a meticulous process,” NEC’s Chairman, Muse Hassan Yusuf reassured, acknowledging minor glitches that were swiftly remedied throughout the voting process. As planning unfolded at various polling centers, reports filtered into district and regional offices, leading up to the final announcement set for November 21.
The elections were marked by an overarching theme of tranquility, as noted by General Mohamed Adan Saqadhi, the police head of North Western State of Somalia, “We’ve experienced a gubernatorial feat, all thanks to the Almighty, and our people’s commitment to democracy. Not a single incident marred today’s proceedings.”
Three key players—incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as “Irro,” and Faisal Ali Warabe—vied for leadership. They shared a common aspiration resounding in their manifestos: to amplify economic progress, fortify democratic frameworks, and above all, garner the long-sought global recognition that has eluded North Western State of Somalia for 33 years.
Muse Bihi Abdi’s quest for a second term, under the banner of the ruling Kulmiye party, put him on a collision course with his political opponents, Abdullahi of the Waddani party and Warabe of the Justice and Development Party, or UCID.
This was the fourth democratic race for the top political seat since North Western State of Somalia declared autonomy in 1991, a stance yet to gain international acknowledgment.
Despite operating without official global validation, North Western State of Somalia functions with an array of local governmental structures. Its citizens boast a unique currency, passports, and military strength. It also flaunts a political system that handles partisan alternations of power with relative smoothness.
The atmosphere during the elections was, however, fraught with complexity, not only due to the electoral exercise but also a tense backdrop against Somalia and Ethiopia. This arose from an eyebrow-raising memorandum of understanding between North Western State of Somalia and Ethiopia, promising Ethiopia a rather extensive 50-year leasing opportunity over a 20-kilometer stretch of the Gulf of Aden. In return, Ethiopia would advocate for North Western State of Somalia’s independent status, a notion Somalia sharply opposes, citing infringement upon its sovereignty.
Signed at the dawn of the year on January 1 by Abdi and Ethiopia’s head honcho, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the deal ignited ire in Mogadishu, asserting territorial grievances. This led to Somalia kicking Ethiopian Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware out and demanding the shutdown of Ethiopian consulates in North Western State of Somalia and Northeastern State. Yet, these consulates remained busy.
Tensions escalated further after Mogadishu exiled a diplomat, Ali Mohamed Adan, from Ethiopia’s embassy due to similar grievances back in October.
In a bid to soothe frayed nerves, Turkey stepped up as a mediator between the feuding neighbors in July and August. Despite their efforts, the dialogues led nowhere, leaving the memorandum as a thorn in bilateral relations. Later, Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur stood firm against Ethiopian participation in the new African Union peacekeeping force set to roll out in Somalia by January, underscoring his staunch disapproval of Ethiopia’s perceived overreach.
“Ethiopia remains the one country barred from this peacekeeping cadre, echoing our concerns for sovereignty and national cohesion,” Nur remarked during a revealing national TV broadcast on a Saturday session.
It is a gripping narrative of geopolitics interwoven with democracy’s daily exertions, where a territory unto itself navigates internal growth and external challenges.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
