North Western State of Somalia Prepares to Cast Votes Amidst Regional Strains in the Horn of Africa
“Oh, the political temperature is rising in North Western State of Somalia!” exclaimed a supporter of the opposition Waddani party, captured by the lens of LUIS TATO.
In the heart of a diplomatic firestorm, North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared independent region splintered from Somalia, gears up for a Wednesday presidential showdown during a tumultuous spell in the Horn of Africa.
Perched at Somalia’s northwest tip, this territory broke free in 1991, maintaining a level of tranquility and calmness that its parent nation could only dream of.
Running its own show with currency, passports, and military forces, North Western State of Somalia basks in self-governance, yet global recognition remains as elusive as a needle in a haystack.
Fast forward to now, it’s the epicenter of a wrangle between Somalia and Ethiopia, stirring fears among international onlookers of potential unrest in this tinderbox region.
Back in January, North Western State of Somalia’s top dog, Muse Bihi, inked a pact with Ethiopia, leasing out a parcel—a 20-kilometer stretch of Red Sea coast—for Ethiopia’s landlocked ease. Sweet deal, right?
Bihi whispers promises of Ethiopian recognition, though Addis Ababa’s nod remains a ghost and the full details of their handshake under wraps.
That hush-hush deal has kicked up a storm in Somalia, leading to a semantic and military standoff with Ethiopia, giving the international community the heebie-jeebies.
The election drumbeat sounds loudly, with Muse Bihi facing competition. Still, critics like Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and Faysal Ali Warabe have tiptoed around the agreement, avoiding any public critique.
Ruling since 2017 at 76 strong and in charge of Kulmiye, Bihi boasts plans for more developments on the deal, should voters decide to keep him in the hot seat.
“That’s his big selling point, his campaign’s cornerstone,” shares local lawyer and political whistle, Guleid Ahmed Jama.
Yet, for the 1.2 million souls calling this stretched land home, economics and stable order top their wishlists far above this politico dance.
Street rallies have been a kaleidoscope of color and drama, but the campaign heat alongside accusations against Bihi for allegedly partitioning North Western State of Somalia tell a fractious tale.
Hood Abdullahi Adan an opposition voice, let loose to AFP that these seven years were rife with regression under Bihi, rattling off woes like conflict and inflation.
Boos whisper Bihi, once a military man who waved the flag for freedom, rules with an iron fist, making clan rifts wider, losing the Sool region after clashing with pro-Mogadishu forces in 2023.
“What’s a little protest?” says Bihi, who faced backlash when he pushed elections two years past due, chalking it up to logistics and funds.
In the electoral gladiator pit, Bihi tussles with his main contender, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, a.k.a. “Irro,” representing Waddani.
With a portfolio featuring some hard-time diplomacy in the USSR and Finland, and having wielded the speaker’s gavel in North Western State of Somalia’s chambers, 68-year-old Irro doesn’t tout drastic policies but promises unity.
“Ideologically, not many gaps divide the two main players. However, personalities set them apart—a crucial factor here,” notes Jama with sharp insight.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
