109
actors, outside of the clan system. As noted elsewhere, political parties heavily depend on clans
during elections for the provision of funding, candidates and voters. Interviewees from all
sectors noted the limited formal engagement political parties have with other institutions, and
particular challenges to working with the government (on the part of opposition parties). As
further detailed below, political parties have weak relationships with their members of
parliament, and vice versa, for a variety of political and structural reasons.
Further, there are strong connections between political parties and the diaspora. One political
party leader noted, “We have very good relationship with the diaspora…our management
consisted of three deputy chairman, a chairman and a candidate and they are all diaspora
people.” A high ranking member of another party noted, “The diaspora are members of the
party’s institutions, wherever they are in the world they have a sub office and sub committees
where we work together.” Diaspora communities support political campaigns
165
and actively
engage in Somaliland state building. A 2009 UNDP report
166
noted:
The Somaliland diaspora has always been an active element in the equation of
state building and the restructuring of the political system of the country. A clear
illustration of this is the number of Somalis from the Diaspora holding leadership
positions in the political institutions of the country. Ten Ministers in a cabinet of
29 are returnees. Two of the three political parties in Somaliland are also led by
returnees. The head of one of the two legislative chambers – the
Guurti
– is a
diaspora returnee, along with 30 members of the 82-member House of
Representatives.
Somaliland Strategy Analysis Framework: Political Parties
For the purposes of this democratization strategy assessment, analysis of political party
interests, needs and priorities took place within a framework adapted for the Somaliland
context. A graphical representation of the Somaliland political party framework is shown
below:
165
Bradbury, Mark.
Becoming Somaliland
. Oxford: James Currey, 2008. Print, p. 177.
166
Sheikh, Hassan, and Sally Healy.
Somalia's Mission Million: The Somali Diaspora and Its Role in Development
.
Rep. N.p.: UNDP Somalia, 2009. Print.
