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members who were elected as part of the now-defunct UDUB or who split from UCID to form
Waddani.
Actors
Political party actors include the three current official national parties, Kulmiye, Waddani and
UCID, and are influenced by clan politics and the Somaliland diaspora.
Kulmiye Party
Kulmiye obtained its public appeal from its chairman’s, now President Ahmed Silanyo’s,
credentials as Somali National Movement leader during the liberation struggle. Now the
incumbent political party, Kulmiye won the presidency in 2010, and went on to receive the
majority of votes during the 2012 local council elections. During the 2012 election Kulmiye
was accused by competing political associations of poll rigging (specifically, destroying valid
ballots and discarding ballot boxes) and use of force. Upon winning the presidency, Silanyo
relinquished the party chairmanship to his deputy, Muse Bihi Abdi, who has remained chairman
since then. In April 2012 the former deputy chairman of Kulmiye, Abdirahman Abdiqadir, was
expelled abruptly from the party in response to his alleged dissension to some of Silanyo’s
policies.
Waddani Party
Waddani, or Somaliland National Party, was formed by former members of UCID who, in
2012, seceded from the party to form their own political association as a result of internal
conflict. The party is headed by the speaker of parliament, Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi
Irro.
Justice and Welfare Party (UCID)
The formation of UCID in 2001 was largely a result of ongoing talks among members of the
Somaliland diaspora, particularly those concentrated in the Scandinavian countries. Many of
the party’s leaders and supporters have experience studying, working or living in western
Europe. As a result of the Scandinavian influence, the party’s interests tend to align with those
of western European parties. The party’s western characteristics coexist, though, with a blend
of traditional Islamist values. Faisal Ali Warabe, now the chairman of the party, is largely
responsible for its formation and early development. After internecine conflict, the party lost a
significant membership base to Waddani, and came in third in the 2012 local council elections.
Clans
The development of a national, multiparty system was intended to move the country from a
clan-based political system to a more national and democratic one.
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As described by one high
ranking political party official during this assessment:
…parties have [played] a very vital role in the peace and stability of the country,
development and reconstruction of Somaliland. We were people that are based
upon a clan system, who used to elect based on clan. More often the clan elders
[were] elected among the leader of the community, therefore it was the last time
158
A Vote for Peace II: A Report on the 2010 Somaliland Presidential Election Process
. Rep. Hargeisa: Academy
for Peace and Development/Interpeace, 2012. Print, p. 1-2.
