KEY POINTS
- Cirro won 64% of the vote, defeating incumbent Muse Bihi.
- Somaliland seeks recognition through strategic partnerships like Ethiopia pact.
- Cirro’s leadership could reshape ties with Somalia and China.
The electoral commission said on Tuesday that Abdirahman Cirro, the opposition leader of Somaliland, had defeated incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi in last week’s election, opening the door for a change of leadership in the breakaway Somali province that is still vying for international recognition.
Somaliland transitions power as Cirro defeats incumbent Bihi
Since separating from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has governed itself, but no nation has formally acknowledged its sovereignty. Due to its lack of recognition, its six million citizens are unable to travel and its access to international funding is restricted. Musa Hassan, the chairman of the Somaliland Electoral Commission, reported that Cirro, the leader of the Waddani party, received 64% of the vote, while Bihi received 35%.
“Winning or losing is not the focus of this election. In a televised speech, Cirro stated, “It is about unity, fraternity, and advancing the Somaliland nation.”
According to reuters, Somaliland, which is strategically situated at the meeting point of the Indian and Red Seas, considers international recognition to be vital.
Since gaining independence, Somaliland has experienced comparatively calm conditions, but neighbouring Somalia is still embroiled in violence. Due to the region’s stability, it has been able to pursue foreign alliances, such as contentious talks with Ethiopia that have strained ties between Ethiopia and Somalia and brought the country closer to Egypt and Eritrea, longstanding adversaries.
Regional and global implications of Cirro’s foreign policy shifts
Although Cirro has generally endorsed the arrangement with Ethiopia, experts speculate that he could be more willing to engage in open communication with the government of Somalia, which is against the agreement. His strategy might indicate a big change in Somaliland’s foreign policy.
Cirro received congratulations on his victory from the presidents of Djibouti and Somalia. Ethiopian authorities also congratulated Somaliland, while in a message on X, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti praised Somaliland’s political maturity. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, reaffirmed his commitment to peace negotiations that aim to maintain Somalia’s unity.
Somaliland’s foreign relations may be further impacted by Cirro’s position on its ties to Taiwan, which are a source of contention with China. According to some observers, as part of his larger diplomatic policy, Cirro would give priority to fortifying ties with China, a significant investor in the Horn of Africa, over Taiwan.
Matt Bryden, strategic adviser with the Sahan think tank, stated that although there are worries that Cirro may drastically change his predecessor’s ideas, there is frequently a big difference between campaign rhetoric and government.
