Somaliland: Continuity or Aggressive Reform: First 100 Days of President Muse Bihi Abdi

[Deeq A.]

By M. A. Ali, University of Hargeisa, LLB and MA in International Relations and Diplomacy.

1. The Establishment of Democracy

Somaliland had inherited societal structure which had survived through the colonial era and into the independence period[1], this culture remained intact during and after the war between Somali National Movement (SNM) and Siad Barre’s regime. Since 1991, when Somaliland declared independence from the rest of Somalia, the country went through different stages of transformation, starting from grassroot tribal reconciliation, disarmament of clan militia groups, peacebuilding and laying the foundation of systematic procedure of shifting from traditional Charter to hybrid system of democratic state, where citizens elect government officials with a ballot paper

In May 1993, President Egal was elected to replace President Abdirahman Tuur, the last SNM[2]chairman and the founding President of Somaliland during the Borama Grand Conference, President Egal brought a new momentum of state-building with a clear and precise blueprint. His priority was militia disarmament and seizing the control of the main government sources of revenue, including the major ports, airports and border customs which were at the time controlled by various clan militias.

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